Ellen Louise Bosma

Ocheyedan, Iowa

Ellen Bosma, age 75, of rural Harris, IA, died on Friday, December 8, 2023, at her home surrounded by her family.

Visitation will be on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. with the family present at the Christian Reformed Church in Ocheyedan, IA.

Family and friends may gather at 9:45 a.m. on Wednesday, December 13th at the Christian Reformed Church and then go in procession to the Ocheyedan Township Cemetery for committal service.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at the Christian Reformed Church in Ocheyedan, with Pastor Lee Khang, officiating.

Arrangements are in the care of the Jurrens Funeral Home of Ocheyedan, IA.

Ellen Louise (Eekhoff) Bosma was born on February 27, 1948, in Wellsburg, IA, the daughter of Harold and Ordie (Nederhoff) Eekhoff. She was a member of the Wellsburg Christian Reformed Church as a youth. Her spiritual walk grew with her participation in the SWIM program and credits that time was her commitment to the Lord. She attended Timothy Christian School and later graduated from Wellsburg High School. Ellen received her Elementary Education Degree from Dordt College in Sioux Center, IA.

After graduating from Dordt College, she taught at Sibley Christian School. She made many wonderful friendships with students & their families, & coworkers. While teaching there, she was introduced to Wilfred Bosma by her pastor and they were joined in marriage on July 21, 1972. She was a "gift" for Willie.

They made their home at the family farm by Harris, IA for their 51+ years of marriage, and it always had an open door to welcome friends and family. Ellen left teaching and turned her attention to raising their four children and being a farm wife. She made LOTS of meals for the field and cleaned up lots of dirt and mud from her kids, but always made a home full of love and decorated with seasonal flair.

Ellen was a professing member of Ocheyedan Christian Reformed Church where she loved to be active for the Lord. She led the choir with a bounce and a joy, she was involved with the worship committee and designed worship to bring the family of God together, she was a part of the Sunshine Circle and The Gathering women's Bible study groups, she loved to spread the Word of God with the Evangelism Committee through Vacation Bible School and the Bible booth at the Spencer Fair.

Ellen loved to cheer for her kids and grandkids even if she didn't always understand the ins-and-outs of the activity and loved to get "on the road again". She loved her garden and finding "God Sightings" in the world around her. She could whip up a meal by finding any "Substitute ingredients" to make it work. She loved to bake a special apple pie with the perfect crust for "my Willie".

Life with Ellen was highlighted with waves from the porch and yelling "good---bye", and she & Willie treated the family to an opera duet version of "Happy Birthday" every birthday. She looked forward to celebrating her family to the best Christmas celebration centered around a time of Advent worship where she loved to hear the promise of our Savior's birth.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, Wilfred Bosma; four children, Curt (Amber) Bosma of Ocheyedan, IA, Greg (Heidi) Bosma of Sioux Center, IA, Crystal (Mark) Vis of Worthington, MN, and Annette Bosma of Phoenix, AZ; nine grandchildren, Olivia and Alex Bosma, Madison, Ethan, and Brandon Bosma, Brielle, Mia, Elia, and Dallas Vis; three siblings, Dave (Peg) Eekhoff of Sioux Center, IA, Nancy Huisman of Wellsburg, IA, and Hank (Kathy) Eekhoff of Churchill, MT; nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Harold and Ordie Eekhoff; parents-in-law, Pete and Jenny Bosma; grandson, Riley Peter Bosma; and brother-in-law, Dean Huisman.