- Date Of Death: January 12, 2011
- State: Michigan
Jennie VanDerAa, 79, of Sawyer, Michigan died peacefully at her home Wednesday morning, January 12, 2011, surrounded by her loving family. Jennie was born August 4, 1931, in Chicago Ridge, Illinois to Joe and Jennie (Ipema) DeRuiter.
She attended Evergreen Park Christian school as a child. On January 15, 1954, she married John VanDerAa at the Western Springs Christian Reformed Church. The VanDerAa’s moved to Michigan where they worked side by side on the family’s dairy farm in Three Oaks.
Jennie was a supportive wife and dedicated mother, raising six daughters. Jennie enjoyed playing ball with her family and was a Cubs fan to the end. She also enjoyed gardening, golfing, bowling, and playing all types of games; especially cards.
She was always proud of her grandchildren’s accomplishments, attending nearly every ball game and school function. The slippers she would crochet for her family were always a highlight of Christmas.
Jennie lived in service to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and loved her family dearly. Survivors include her daughters, Patricia VanDerAa of Sawyer; Tamera (Kelly) Merryman of South Haven, Michigan; Kathleen VanDerAa of Highland Village, Texas; JoAnn (David) Moore of Flippin, Arkansas; Carol Wiedenman of Sawyer and Jennie (Terry) Koebel of Three Oaks.; 13 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren, sisters, Tracy Persenaire of Boynton Beach, FL and Grace (Arthur) VanDerAa of Pantego, NC and brothers, Herbert (Rosemary) DeRuiter of Crestwood, IL and Ben DeRuiter of Jackson, KY.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John, and grandsons, John Rodgers and Ames Moore; sisters Viola Kuipers and Anna Beelen; and brothers, Henry DeRuiter, Richard DeRuiter, Peter DeRuiter, and Joe DeRuiter.
