RENA BLEEKER , 92, of Sioux Center, IA died Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at the Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 11:00AM at First Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Bob Holtrop officiating. Interment will be held prior to the memorial service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.
A family prayer service will be held Saturday at 10am at First Reformed Church.
Visitation will be held Friday from 4pm to 8pm with the family present from 6-8pm at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.
The Bleeker Family prefers memorials be directed to: First Reformed Church of Sioux Center.
Rena Bleeker (Overman) was born in Sibley, Iowa on May 22, 1916. She was the daughter of Tenges and Rieka (Voortman) Overman. Rena and her family lived in Sibley for 5 years before moving to Carmel, Iowa, where she attended country school through 8th grade.
On September 18, 1940, Rena married Lawrence Bleeker in Rock Valley, Iowa. They lived in Carmel for three years before moving to Sioux Center where they resided the rest of their lives.
Lawrence and Rena attended the Netherlands Reformed Congregation for many years before becoming members of the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Rena often enjoyed working with the womens serving groups at church. She also was a member of the VFW Auxiliary where she served as an officer.
Rena enjoyed baking, sewing, knitting and crocheting. She used her talents to make several afghans for hospital bazaars. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and sister.
She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Ruth and Darrell De Boer of Brookings, SD, Cornelia and Ken Lubbers of Sioux City; two sons: Tony Bleeker of Austin, TX, Bill Bleeker of Austell, GA; 12 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; two brothers and sisters-in-law: Mike and Johanna Overman of Sioux Center, IA, Tunis and Helen Overman of Rock Rapids, IA; sister, Dena Wildeman of Rock Rapids; sister-in-law, Dorothy Overman of Hull and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, Lawrence she was preceded in death by her parents; brother and sister-in-law, Bill and Adeline Overman; brother, Ted Overman and two sisters and brothers-in-law: Henrietta and Alfred Franken and Gertrude and Bill Spyksma.