Eunice Van Bruggen

 Eunice Van Bruggen age 90 of Sioux Center, Iowa went to her heavenly home Thursday, May 4, 2023, at Sioux Center Health in Sioux Center.  

A funeral service will be held at 11:00AM on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, at Faith Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Bob Pollema, officiating. Interment will follow the funeral service in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center.

A visitation will be held from 10:00AM until the time of service on Tuesday at Faith Christian Reformed Church. 

Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.

Eunice Joretta Van Bruggen was born on August 8, 1932, to Christian and Elizabeth (Colsman) Gesink in Sioux Center.

She grew up in Sioux Center and graduated from Western Christian High School.  She received her Nurses Aide degree and worked at Pine Rest in Grand Rapids, MI and later returned to Sioux Center and worked at the Sioux Center Hospital. 

 She was joined in marriage to Ted Van Bruggen on June 10, 1952, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center.  Their first home was in Ireton, Iowa. To this union, five children were born. 

Eunice was a member of the Faith Christian Reformed Church where she sang in the choir and was involved with Bible studies and volunteered at the church and school.

 Eunice loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  When they were babies she loved to hold and rock them, singing favorite lullabies from her own childhood.  As the grandchildren grew, a highlight was getting to spend a week at grandma and grandpa’s house each summer.

 She and Ted loved traveling together after retirement and volunteered at many SOWER projects.

She will be remembered not only for her love of cats, sewing and many quilting projects. She enjoyed a good book, and always showed great kindness, warmth and gentle words. She made small things special, giving lots of treasured moments to her family. She had a great love for her family and especially the Lord.

 Eunice is survived by her husband of 70 years, Ted Van Bruggen of Sioux Center; her children: Doug (Hedy) Van Bruggen of Sioux Center, Dyxie Van Bruggen of Bend, OR, Donna (Dave) Kleinwolterink of Sibley, IA, Todd (Jennifer) Van Bruggen of Sioux Center, Tim (Cheri) Van Bruggen of Luverne, MN; grandchildren: Brad (Libby) Van Bruggen, Emily (Chad) De Goot, Brian (Jill) Van Bruggen, Elizabeth (Travis) Roskam, Amos (Heather) Kleinwolterink, April (Brian) Blair, Ethan Kleinwolterink, Kendra (Tyler) Janssen, Kelsey (Matt) Bodensteiner, Amanda (Jordan) Versteeg, Sam (Abby) Van Bruggen and 21 great grandchildren.  She is also survived by two sisters: Eleanor Vonk and Helen Van Wyhe; brother, David Gesink, sister-in-law, Arlis Feenstra and numerous nieces and nephews.

 She was preceded by her parents; two brothers and sisters-in-law: Melvin and Carol Gesink and Owen and Jan Gesink; sister and brother-in-law, Frances and Richard Baker; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Jeanne and George Huizenga and brothers-in-law: Harold Van Bruggen, Dennis Feenstra, John Vonk, Duane Van Wyhe; and sister-in-law, Audrey Gesink.