Shirley Ann Hoeksema, the youngest of four children, was born August 24, 1935 in Pella, Iowa to John and Alice (Koopmans) Hoeksema. Shirley was raised in a home centered around love, entrepreneurship and service to others. This environment was to have a lifelong effect on Shirley.
Shirley attended the Pella public school system and graduated from Pella High School with the Class of 1953. One of the early accomplishments of which she was most proud was being selected as the Pella representative to attend Girl's State following her junior year.
As a freshman in high school Shirley met and began dating the love of her life: Virgil Wayne Boertje. Following graduation Shirley began working at her father's business, Vandermeulen-Hoeksema Hardware and John Deere Dealership. She served as bookkeeper while waiting for Virgil to complete a two-year stint in the army at which point the two were married on May 18, 1955.
Two children were born to Shirley and Virgil: Bruce Alan (1957) and Barbara Jo (1959). While the children were young Shirley continued her bookkeeping duties from home. Once the children were in school Shirley returned to nearly full-time bookkeeping in addition to her homemaking duties.
Following his military service Virgil began working as a mechanic at the John Deere dealership and in 1958 Shirley's father, John, incorporated the business under the name of Hoeksema's, Inc. John made Virgil and Shirley's brother, Max, full partners in the business - truly a family affair. In 1984, Shirley, Virgil and Max retired from the John Deere business and the partnership purchased farmland and Virgil and Max farmed it while Shirley continued to keep the books.
During her life Shirley was deeply involved with her church and other volunteer activities. She sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and Youth Fellowship and was elected as one of the first two women to serve as an elder in First Reformed Church. She later became the first female vice-president of consistory. Perhaps her crowning achievement was serving as a national representative and officer to the Reformed Church Women's Ministries. She also served on the boards of the Pella Community Hospital and Christian Benevolent Association. She was involved with the Women's Federated Club, Central College Auxiliary and volunteered at the Pella Historical Society. For years she acted as a local official for city, state and national elections.
Shirley and Virgil loved to travel, first through extended family vacations, and later as empty nesters. Over the years they visited every state of the Union and large swaths of Europe, Japan and Australia. Their frequent travel partners were their lifelong friends Betty and Jerry Van Wyngarden, formerly of Pella but later of Michigan. Although living hundreds of miles apart the two couples remained nearly inseparable. They visited each other and traveled together many times every year for over 60 years.
Although Shirley's declining health relegated her to assisted living the past few years, Virgil continued to spend every day with her. The two provided a wonderful example of a faithful, loving and devoted couple. Shirley passed away peacefully on the evening of May 17, 2020, at the age of 84 years, with her family at her side. Shirley and Virgil were one day away from celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary.
Besides her husband Virgil, Shirley leaves two children, three grand children and two great-grandchildren:
Bruce and Cyndi Boertje of Pella
Rachel and Blake Rozendaal of Urbandale
Eliza, Bennett
Jessica Boertje of Ames
Nathan Boertje of Valley City, ND
Barbara Boertje DeVries and Jeff DeVries of Pella
Also surviving is her sister-in-law Helen (Van Zante) Boertje of Pella and many nieces, nephews and their families.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings and their spouses: Freda and Ralph Wisse, Dorothy and Carl Gaass, and Max and Milly (Hugen) Hoeksema; her parents-in-law John and Barbara (Van Ryswyk) Boertje; brother-in-law Donald Boertje; and one special niece Mary (Wisse) Vande Noord.
The family is grateful for Dr. Robin Vande Voort's care over the years, and for all of the WesleyLife nurses, caregivers, and workers. For those desiring, memorial contributions are preferred for WesleyLife Hospice or the Comfort House.
Shirley attended the Pella public school system and graduated from Pella High School with the Class of 1953. One of the early accomplishments of which she was most proud was being selected as the Pella representative to attend Girl's State following her junior year.
As a freshman in high school Shirley met and began dating the love of her life: Virgil Wayne Boertje. Following graduation Shirley began working at her father's business, Vandermeulen-Hoeksema Hardware and John Deere Dealership. She served as bookkeeper while waiting for Virgil to complete a two-year stint in the army at which point the two were married on May 18, 1955.
Two children were born to Shirley and Virgil: Bruce Alan (1957) and Barbara Jo (1959). While the children were young Shirley continued her bookkeeping duties from home. Once the children were in school Shirley returned to nearly full-time bookkeeping in addition to her homemaking duties.
Following his military service Virgil began working as a mechanic at the John Deere dealership and in 1958 Shirley's father, John, incorporated the business under the name of Hoeksema's, Inc. John made Virgil and Shirley's brother, Max, full partners in the business - truly a family affair. In 1984, Shirley, Virgil and Max retired from the John Deere business and the partnership purchased farmland and Virgil and Max farmed it while Shirley continued to keep the books.
During her life Shirley was deeply involved with her church and other volunteer activities. She sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and Youth Fellowship and was elected as one of the first two women to serve as an elder in First Reformed Church. She later became the first female vice-president of consistory. Perhaps her crowning achievement was serving as a national representative and officer to the Reformed Church Women's Ministries. She also served on the boards of the Pella Community Hospital and Christian Benevolent Association. She was involved with the Women's Federated Club, Central College Auxiliary and volunteered at the Pella Historical Society. For years she acted as a local official for city, state and national elections.
Shirley and Virgil loved to travel, first through extended family vacations, and later as empty nesters. Over the years they visited every state of the Union and large swaths of Europe, Japan and Australia. Their frequent travel partners were their lifelong friends Betty and Jerry Van Wyngarden, formerly of Pella but later of Michigan. Although living hundreds of miles apart the two couples remained nearly inseparable. They visited each other and traveled together many times every year for over 60 years.
Although Shirley's declining health relegated her to assisted living the past few years, Virgil continued to spend every day with her. The two provided a wonderful example of a faithful, loving and devoted couple. Shirley passed away peacefully on the evening of May 17, 2020, at the age of 84 years, with her family at her side. Shirley and Virgil were one day away from celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary.
Besides her husband Virgil, Shirley leaves two children, three grand children and two great-grandchildren:
Bruce and Cyndi Boertje of Pella
Rachel and Blake Rozendaal of Urbandale
Eliza, Bennett
Jessica Boertje of Ames
Nathan Boertje of Valley City, ND
Barbara Boertje DeVries and Jeff DeVries of Pella
Also surviving is her sister-in-law Helen (Van Zante) Boertje of Pella and many nieces, nephews and their families.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings and their spouses: Freda and Ralph Wisse, Dorothy and Carl Gaass, and Max and Milly (Hugen) Hoeksema; her parents-in-law John and Barbara (Van Ryswyk) Boertje; brother-in-law Donald Boertje; and one special niece Mary (Wisse) Vande Noord.
The family is grateful for Dr. Robin Vande Voort's care over the years, and for all of the WesleyLife nurses, caregivers, and workers. For those desiring, memorial contributions are preferred for WesleyLife Hospice or the Comfort House.
Shirley Ann Hoeksema, the youngest of four children, was born August 24, 1935 in Pella, Iowa to John and Alice (Koopmans) Hoeksema. Shirley was raised in a home centered around love, entrepreneurship and service to others. This environment was to have a lifelong effect on Shirley.
Shirley attended the Pella public school system and graduated from Pella High School with the Class of 1953. One of the early accomplishments of which she was most proud was being selected as the Pella representative to attend Girl's State following her junior year.
As a freshman in high school Shirley met and began dating the love of her life: Virgil Wayne Boertje. Following graduation Shirley began working at her father's business, Vandermeulen-Hoeksema Hardware and John Deere Dealership. She served as bookkeeper while waiting for Virgil to complete a two-year stint in the army at which point the two were married on May 18, 1955.
Two children were born to Shirley and Virgil: Bruce Alan (1957) and Barbara Jo (1959). While the children were young Shirley continued her bookkeeping duties from home. Once the children were in school Shirley returned to nearly full-time bookkeeping in addition to her homemaking duties.
Following his military service Virgil began working as a mechanic at the John Deere dealership and in 1958 Shirley's father, John, incorporated the business under the name of Hoeksema's, Inc. John made Virgil and Shirley's brother, Max, full partners in the business - truly a family affair. In 1984, Shirley, Virgil and Max retired from the John Deere business and the partnership purchased farmland and Virgil and Max farmed it while Shirley continued to keep the books.
During her life Shirley was deeply involved with her church and other volunteer activities. She sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and Youth Fellowship and was elected as one of the first two women to serve as an elder in First Reformed Church. She later became the first female vice-president of consistory. Perhaps her crowning achievement was serving as a national representative and officer to the Reformed Church Women's Ministries. She also served on the boards of the Pella Community Hospital and Christian Benevolent Association. She was involved with the Women's Federated Club, Central College Auxiliary and volunteered at the Pella Historical Society. For years she acted as a local official for city, state and national elections.
Shirley and Virgil loved to travel, first through extended family vacations, and later as empty nesters. Over the years they visited every state of the Union and large swaths of Europe, Japan and Australia. Their frequent travel partners were their lifelong friends Betty and Jerry Van Wyngarden, formerly of Pella but later of Michigan. Although living hundreds of miles apart the two couples remained nearly inseparable. They visited each other and traveled together many times every year for over 60 years.
Although Shirley's declining health relegated her to assisted living the past few years, Virgil continued to spend every day with her. The two provided a wonderful example of a faithful, loving and devoted couple. Shirley passed away peacefully on the evening of May 17, 2020, at the age of 84 years, with her family at her side. Shirley and Virgil were one day away from celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary.
Besides her husband Virgil, Shirley leaves two children, three grand children and two great-grandchildren:
Bruce and Cyndi Boertje of Pella
Rachel and Blake Rozendaal of Urbandale
Eliza, Bennett
Jessica Boertje of Ames
Nathan Boertje of Valley City, ND
Barbara Boertje DeVries and Jeff DeVries of Pella
Also surviving is her sister-in-law Helen (Van Zante) Boertje of Pella and many nieces, nephews and their families.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings and their spouses: Freda and Ralph Wisse, Dorothy and Carl Gaass, and Max and Milly (Hugen) Hoeksema; her parents-in-law John and Barbara (Van Ryswyk) Boertje; brother-in-law Donald Boertje; and one special niece Mary (Wisse) Vande Noord.
The family is grateful for Dr. Robin Vande Voort's care over the years, and for all of the WesleyLife nurses, caregivers, and workers. For those desiring, memorial contributions are preferred for WesleyLife Hospice or the Comfort House.
Shirley attended the Pella public school system and graduated from Pella High School with the Class of 1953. One of the early accomplishments of which she was most proud was being selected as the Pella representative to attend Girl's State following her junior year.
As a freshman in high school Shirley met and began dating the love of her life: Virgil Wayne Boertje. Following graduation Shirley began working at her father's business, Vandermeulen-Hoeksema Hardware and John Deere Dealership. She served as bookkeeper while waiting for Virgil to complete a two-year stint in the army at which point the two were married on May 18, 1955.
Two children were born to Shirley and Virgil: Bruce Alan (1957) and Barbara Jo (1959). While the children were young Shirley continued her bookkeeping duties from home. Once the children were in school Shirley returned to nearly full-time bookkeeping in addition to her homemaking duties.
Following his military service Virgil began working as a mechanic at the John Deere dealership and in 1958 Shirley's father, John, incorporated the business under the name of Hoeksema's, Inc. John made Virgil and Shirley's brother, Max, full partners in the business - truly a family affair. In 1984, Shirley, Virgil and Max retired from the John Deere business and the partnership purchased farmland and Virgil and Max farmed it while Shirley continued to keep the books.
During her life Shirley was deeply involved with her church and other volunteer activities. She sang in the choir, taught Sunday School and Youth Fellowship and was elected as one of the first two women to serve as an elder in First Reformed Church. She later became the first female vice-president of consistory. Perhaps her crowning achievement was serving as a national representative and officer to the Reformed Church Women's Ministries. She also served on the boards of the Pella Community Hospital and Christian Benevolent Association. She was involved with the Women's Federated Club, Central College Auxiliary and volunteered at the Pella Historical Society. For years she acted as a local official for city, state and national elections.
Shirley and Virgil loved to travel, first through extended family vacations, and later as empty nesters. Over the years they visited every state of the Union and large swaths of Europe, Japan and Australia. Their frequent travel partners were their lifelong friends Betty and Jerry Van Wyngarden, formerly of Pella but later of Michigan. Although living hundreds of miles apart the two couples remained nearly inseparable. They visited each other and traveled together many times every year for over 60 years.
Although Shirley's declining health relegated her to assisted living the past few years, Virgil continued to spend every day with her. The two provided a wonderful example of a faithful, loving and devoted couple. Shirley passed away peacefully on the evening of May 17, 2020, at the age of 84 years, with her family at her side. Shirley and Virgil were one day away from celebrating their 65th wedding anniversary.
Besides her husband Virgil, Shirley leaves two children, three grand children and two great-grandchildren:
Bruce and Cyndi Boertje of Pella
Rachel and Blake Rozendaal of Urbandale
Eliza, Bennett
Jessica Boertje of Ames
Nathan Boertje of Valley City, ND
Barbara Boertje DeVries and Jeff DeVries of Pella
Also surviving is her sister-in-law Helen (Van Zante) Boertje of Pella and many nieces, nephews and their families.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings and their spouses: Freda and Ralph Wisse, Dorothy and Carl Gaass, and Max and Milly (Hugen) Hoeksema; her parents-in-law John and Barbara (Van Ryswyk) Boertje; brother-in-law Donald Boertje; and one special niece Mary (Wisse) Vande Noord.
The family is grateful for Dr. Robin Vande Voort's care over the years, and for all of the WesleyLife nurses, caregivers, and workers. For those desiring, memorial contributions are preferred for WesleyLife Hospice or the Comfort House.
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