Gerrit Stiemsma

Gerrit Stiemsma, age 84 of Friesland, went to his Heavenly Home on Saturday, January 15, 2011, at the Continental Manor of Randolph, surrounded by his family.

Gerrit was born on January 9, 1927 in Randolph, WI, a son to Richard and Sarah (Alsum) Stiemsma. He was united in marriage to Helena Streekstra on September 12, 1950. They enjoyed sixty years of marriage and celebrated with friends and family this past summer. He served his country with the United States Army from 1955 – 1957. Gerrit worked at the Friesland Feed Mill until his retirement. He was a member of the First Randolph Christian Reformed Church all his life. He had served as a deacon and elder of the church. He had been a cadet leader and served on the Randolph Christian School board, where he cooked many brats for fund raisers for the school. In his younger days, Gerrit enjoyed playing volleyball on a men’s league and with friends. Family time was precious to him, and he and Helena spent a lot of time camping with the kids and later with the grandchildren. In their retirement, they enjoyed spending winters in Florida. Playing cards, working on word search puzzles, and peeling hundreds of pounds of potatoes for his wife, along with bushels of apples, were activities he enjoyed. Gerrit will be remembered by his family for his love of teasing them and little sayings for the grandkids.

Gerrit will be missed and is survived by his wife Helena; four children, Yvonne (James) Reilley, Columbus; Shirley (Ron) Schueler, Cambria; Richard (Sharry) Stiemsma, and Harriet (Tim) Omen, both of Randolph; eight grandchildren, Ruth (Gerry) Deakin, Randolph, Amanda (Leonard) Wolc, Oxford, Emily Schueler, Cambria, Erin (John) Stampli, Madison, Greg Stiemsma, Chelsey Omen, Brittany Omen and Allie Omen, all of Randolph, two great-grandchildren, Hailey and Garrett Deakin, and another expected in June. He is further survived by siblings, Dorothy (John) DeHaan, Waupun, Bernice (Henry) Streekstra, Montana, Margie Verhulst, Randolph, Raymond (Judy) Stiemsma, Cambria, and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends including special friends; Rocky and Linda Pudlik and their son Jerry, and Jack and Arla Veld Heer.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at First Reformed Church, N8876 East Friesland Road, Randolph, with Rev. Ken Prol officiating.

Burial will follow in the Friesland Cemetery.

Gerrit’s family will receive relatives and friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 18, at the Randolph Community Funeral Home, 208 S. High Street, Randolph, and on Wednesday at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the hour of services.

A memorial fund has been established in Gerrit’s name.