Martha Kok

Martha Kok, age 98 of Randolph, entered her heavenly home on Monday, March 12, 2012 at Golden Living Center – Continental Manor in Randolph, surrounded by her family.

A service to Celebrate Martha’s life will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 15, 2012 at First Reformed Church, 107 E. Winnebago St. Friesland, with Rev. Rob Ford and Pastor Alan TeBrink officiating. Burial will follow in the Friesland Cemetery.

Relatives and friends may call on Martha’s family at the church on Thursday beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Memorials may be directed to the Friesland Reformed Church Library Fund; The Gideons; Hillside Hospice of Beaver Dam, or other charities in Martha’s name.

Martha was born on November 27, 1913 in the Town of Fox Lake, Dodge County, WI, a daughter of Garret and Bertha (Huizenga) Stiemsma. She attended the Christian Grade School in East Friesland. Being a farmer’s daughter, Martha worked hard with her family and also helped out neighbors. It was the summer when she helped her brother with milking and threshing that she met her husband William “Bill” Kok, and they were married on June 14, 1934 on the family farm. Besides running her household, Martha continued to help on the farm. She kept a very large garden, and was known for making the best pies in the Friesland area. Martha was a longtime member of the First Reformed Church in Friesland where she was active with the Mission Society, Ladies Aid, and as a babysitter for the Coffee Break Program. She taught Sunday School for many years and sang in the choir. She enjoyed picking strawberries, searching for and cracking hickory nuts, and reading. Her greatest joy was time spent with her family. She loved Sunday dinners and spending time with the grandchildren.

Martha is survived by seven children; Marilyn (Wayne) Tavs, Brandon, Judy (Lawrence) Westra, Beaver Dam, Larry (Kathy) Kok, Randolph, Rodney (Sandy) Kok, Cambria, Gene (Tammy) Kok, Fox Lake, Jim (Gena) Kok, Cambria, Brenda (Alan) TeBrink, Durango, CO, and a daughter-in-law, Doris Kok, Fox Lake. She is further survived by 20 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren, and 15 great-great grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Bill in 1982; and a son Byron Kok and his first wife Patricia. Also preceding her were all her siblings and their spouses; Sadie (Raymond) Alsum, Richard (Sarah) Stiemsma, an infant brother, Henry (Sara) Stiemsma, Jennie (Lambert) Alsum, Nick (Jeanette) Stiemsma, Jessie (Willard) Vander Galien, Catherine (Eli) Posthuma, and Louis (Julia) Stiemsma.

Randolph Community Funeral Home is serving the family.