Anna Braaksma

Sibley, Iowa

     Anna Braaksma, age 103, of Sibley, IA, died on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at the Sibley Specialty Care at Sibley, IA.

     Visitation will be Saturday, November 25, 2023, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. with the family present at the Christian Reformed Church in Sibley.

     A funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 25, 2023, at the Christian Reformed Church in Sibley with Rev. Ben Wiersma, officiating, with burial to follow at Holman Township Cemetery at Sibley, IA. 

     Anna Braaksma was born in Ocheyedan, Iowa on September 29, 1920, the daughter of William and Rena (De Boer) Smits. She lived her youth in the areas of Ocheyedan and Sibley, Iowa, Bigelow, Minnesota and Martin, South Dakota until 1934 when her parents returned to Iowa. She attended country schools until completing the 8th grade.

Anna helped her father on the farm and did housekeeping jobs, which led her to meet her future husband while working for the August Braaksma family. She was united in marriage to Jake A. Braaksma in Ocheyedan on December 17, 1941. They farmed near Allendorf, Iowa until 1986 when they retired and moved into Sibley. She was his loving help mate for 65 years until Jake passed away on November 11, 2006.

     Anna was a member of the Sibley Christian Reformed Church and their Ruth Society Bible Study. She enjoyed volunteering, crocheting, gardening, growing her beautiful African Violets, reading, traveling, building puzzles and playing Dominos. Anna also enjoyed spending time with her family and friends, most notably hosting her family on Sundays after church for coffee and her famous caramel cinnamon rolls. She was blessed to be able to live on her own until just before her 102nd birthday when she moved and began receiving loving care at Sibley Specialty Care.

    Grateful for having shared her life are her 4 children, Irene Timmerman of Dickson, TN, Arnold (Mary) Braaksma, of Allendorf, Anita (John) Dreesen, of Ocheyedan, and Dale (Danna) Braaksma, of Allendorf; 14 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Edna Braaksma; and brother-in-law, John (Rebekah) Ver Beek.

     Anna is preceded in death by her husband, Jake; 5 sisters, Anna (in the Netherlands), Margaret (John) Wolterstorff, Tena (Peter) Steensma, Sadie (Ted) Pranger and Gertrude (Dick) Heuseveldt; son-in-law, Gilbert Timmerman; great-grandson, Jacob Timmerman; and Jake's family: Lucy (John) Steen, George (Johanna) Braaksma, Gerard Braaksma and Margaret Ver Beek.

     Memorials may be directed to: Meals on Wheels c/o Sibley Senior Center, 612 8th Street, Sibley, IA. 51249.