Marjorie Bleeker

Marjorie Bleeker, 87, of Sioux Center, Iowa, formerly of Castlewood, South Dakota, died Tuesday, March 4, 2014, at the Sioux Center Community Hospital. A visitation with the family present will be held on Friday from 1:00-2:30PM at the First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center. A funeral service will be held at 2:30PM at the First Christian Reformed Church with Rev. Carl Klompien officiating. A graveside committal service will be held Saturday at 11:00AM at the Bemis Christian Reformed Church Cemetery of rural Clear Lake, SD. The Bleeker family prefers that memorials be directed to Wycliffe Bible Translators. Marjorie Alberta Heemeyer Bleeker was born January 9, 1927, to Albert and Minnie (Lantinga) Heemeyer on a farm east of Castlewood, South Dakota. She attended country school through the 8th grade at Hamlin County #4. On February 3, 1949, she was united in marriage to Richard M. Bleeker at the Bemis Christian Reformed Church. The couple made their home in the Castlewood area where they farmed for 40 years. In 1989, they moved from the farm to a house in Castlewood. They were faithful members of the Bemis Christian Reformed Church where Marjorie played the organ for over 50 years. Over the years she participated in many church activities. Marjorie enjoyed gardening, quilting and canning during her life. Her canned meat and homemade bread were always a special treat for visiting nieces, nephews and cousins. She was known for her gracious hospitality. In the years following her husband's death in 2002, Marjorie relocated to Sioux Center, Iowa, where she could be near family and grandchildren that were attending Dordt College. In 2009, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She was cared for at Royale Meadows Care Center for two years before moving to Bickford Memory Care Center in Sioux City. Marjorie passed away at Sioux Center Hospital after a brief time on hospice care. Marjorie is survived by her six children and their spouses, 14 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren: Mildred Louise and Scott Ravenhorst of Irvine, California (Dede, Amy, Heidi); Lynn and Marlene Bleeker of Sioux Center, Iowa (Kerri and Brad Pollema, Kimber and Jeremy VanEssen, Kraig and Danielle Bleeker, Kyle); Marcia Bleeker of Chad, Africa; Kay and Jeff Moore of Redmond, Washington (Lisa and Ross VanDerBill, Megan, Nathan); Lee and Sharon Bleeker of Raymond, Minnesota (Justin and Ruby Bleeker, Jamie); Karen and Dan Gronseth of Mesa, Arizona (Erik, Jakob). Marjorie is survived by one sister, Violet Solsaa of Webster, South Dakota; one step sister, Berdene Bleeker of Mitchell, South Dakota; and other in-laws. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, step-mother, one brother, John Heemeyer of Clear Lake, South Dakota and many in-laws.