Lois Siebersma

Lois Siebersma, 91, of Orange City, IA, formerly of Sioux Center, IA, died Friday, May 22, 2015 at the Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City. A celebration of Lois' life will be held Friday, June 26th from 4-8PM at the large shelter house at Oak Grove Park near Hawarden, IA. A special time of sharing will be held at 6PM followed by a picnic supper. Lois Ruth was born on July 25, 1923, to Rev. Ralph and Ella Bronkema at Grand Rapids, Michigan. From age 2 until age 6 she lived with her older sister and her parents in the Netherlands. They then moved to Orange City, Iowa, where she spent the rest of her childhood. Her only brother and one more sister were added to the family. Lois was educated at Orange City Christian School, Northwestern Academy, and Calvin College in Grand Rapids. She returned home to teach at the Academy. On June 18, 1944, she married Steve C. Siebersma and joined him at Army Air Force bases in North Carolina and Florida. When World War II ended they moved back to Iowa, ending up in Sioux Center where they raised their five children. Lois was active in church, town, and state organizations, and served as the city librarian for 25 years. In 1990, Steve and Lois moved to Sequim, Washington, where during their retirement years, they volunteered for nature organizations and opened their own book store. After 17 years, they returned again to Orange City where they eventually lived at Landsmeer and the Heritage House. Steve died in 2011 and Lois moved to the Prairie Ridge Care Center when it opened in 2013. Lois was preceded in death by her older sister, Betty Hibma, and several of Steve's siblings. She is survived by her brother, Ralph and Annette Bronkema of Satellite Beach, FL and by her sister, Rosalie Rosenfeld of Bradenton, FL. On Steve's side she is survived by Sophie Van Zee of Rock Valley, Edna Katje of Orange City, Nelvy Siebersma of Phoenix, AZ, Elmer Hofland of Orange City, J.R. and Audrey Siebersma of Orange City and Marilyn and Chet Faber of Escondido, CA. Her five children are Pat and John Haveman of Hull (Steve, Joel, James, Pam and Lora); Steve and Carmel Sieberson of Omaha, NE (Annie, Eric and Laura); Marv and Greta Siebersma of Sioux Center (Erica, Steve C. and Mike); Dan and Diane Siebersma of Ft. Pierre, SD (Aaron and Kristen); Tim Siebersma and Beth McDaniel of Newcastle, WA (Zan and Laine). All of her numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren will remember her as the grandma who gave books for every birthday and each will believe that he or she was her favorite. As a way of sharing Lois's life-long love of reading, the family encourages donations of children's books to be given to needy boys and girls.