Jessie Vande Griend

Jessie Cleveringa-Vande Griend, 97, of Sioux Center, IA, died Thursday, October 7, 2010 at St. Luke's Hospital in Sioux City, IA. Visitation will be held Sunday from 2-8PM with the family present from 2-4PM at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A memorial service will be held Monday at 4PM at the Calvary Christian Reformed Church of Orange City, IA with Reverend David Heilman officiating. Interment will be held prior to the memorial service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. In Lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials be directed to ATLAS. Jessie Cleveringa-Vande Griend was born August 29, 1913 to Henry and Minnie (Kiel) Kramer in Orange City, Iowa. In her formative years, Jess spent many days helping her parents on the farm. Her father, Henry, was a cream hauler and so Jess and her siblings got to help him separate the cream from the milk. Cleaning the separator was never an enjoyable job, but the cream was important to a family that did not have much. The family moved to a farm near Sibley, Iowa where Jess began her education at country school. The family later moved to a farm between Orange City and Sioux Center where Jess attended West Branch country school through the eighth grade. While in eighth grade she won a state spelling contest. After school, Jess helped around the house with the baking, cooking and washing dishes in a dish pan. The work around the house kept her busy and provided little time for a social life. December 9, 1935, Jess married Clarence J. Cleveringa in Sioux Center. The couple made their home on a farm in the Sioux Center area. To this union six children were born. Jess and Clarence experienced hardships over the years with the loss of two sons. Jacob Keith was the oldest of the children and died at the age of fifteen. James Keith, the youngest child, developed complications from a lingering illness and passed away at the age of eighteen. Jess received her practical nursing certificate in 1970 and also worked at Bosch and Inga's clothing stores. Clarence passed away September 1, 1982. Jess was joined in marriage to Jake B. Vande Griend on July 25, 1986. The couple made their home in Orange City. Jess and Jake spent many days traveling together. They also enjoyed times away to Florida and their summer home at Round Lake, MN. Jake passed away on January 9, 2000. In 2005, Jess moved to Crown Point in Sioux Center. Jess was a longtime member of Calvary Christian Reformed Church of Orange City which she faithfully attended until the last years when it became too difficult. For the last few years she has appreciated listening to Pastor Roger Voskuil from First Reformed Church of Sioux Center on the television. Jess enjoyed playing cards with friends, crocheting and baking her cookies and Boston Brown bread She is survived by her four children: Linda and Gary Kramer of Punta Gorda Florida, Wanda and Robert Taylor of Albuquerque, NM, Harlan (Butch) and Lynne Cleveringa of Pine Island, FL, Ruth and Ron Bouma of Orange City, IA / Pine River, MN; 13 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; one great- grandchild; sisters: Dorothy Draayer of Orange City and Mildred Van't Hul of Alton; sisters-in-law, Wilmina Kramer, Alma Kramer, Margaret Cleveringa and Berdena Bylsma; stepson and his wife, Rod and Phyl Vande Griend of Alton; two step-daughters, special nephew, Jerry and Elaine Otten of Minneapolis, MN and numerous other nieces and nephews. Jess was preceded in death by her husbands: Clarence J. Cleveringa and Jake B. Vande Griend; two sons: Jacob Keith and James Keith; sisters: Hermina Otten and Jennie Vander Berg and two brothers Henry Kramer and Steve Kramer. Online Condolences Don & Elaine Kelderman Doon Relationship: Parents of Darren Kelderman Our condolences to the family of Jessie. You are blessed to have so many good memories of her. May God's love surround you at this difficult time. Don & Elaine Kelderman Sent: 10/9/2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Danielle Vander Wilt- Maupin Albuquerque Relationship: granddaughter My beautiful grandmother, I am so sorry I was not given the opportunity to come say goodbye to you. You have always been a wonderful part of my life and I will miss you. I love you and will always hold a place in my heart for my memories of you. Sent: 10/20/2010