Jeannette Huiskes

JEANNETTE ELAINE HUISKES was born on July 13, 1927 to Henry and Hiska (Hester Boomgarden) Ennenga on a farm near Ellsworth, Minnesota. In 1931, her family moved to a farm south of Ash Creek, Minnesota and in 1940, to a farm south of Luverne, Minnesota. She received her education at rural District #1 country school and then furthered her education at Luverne High School, graduating in 1945. Jeannette was united in marriage to Harry Huiskes on April 22, 1947 at the Luverne Methodist Church parsonage. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Harlan and Angie. Jeannette was a homemaker, a caretaker for her parents and assisted Harry in the construction and moving business. The family lived in Luverne until 1961 when they moved to the home Harry built for them just north of Luverne. Harry preceded her in death on August 27, 2008 and Jeannette continued to live in the home Harry built for them.

Jeannette was a member of the Luverne United Methodist Church. She participated in Circle, United Methodist Women’s’ Society and served as a Committee Chairperson. Jeannette was an active volunteer with the Meals on Wheels Program, Mary Jane Brown Good Samaritan Society and the Family Council. She enjoyed visiting about old times, sharing a cup of coffee with friends and listening on the radio to church services on Sunday. Jeannette was always one to put others before herself and truly treasured the time she spent with her family.

She will be lovingly remembered by her son, Harlan and his wife Ann Huiskes of Luverne, Minnesota; daughter, Angie and her husband Tony Arndt of Valley Springs, South Dakota; six grandchildren, Jenny and Erica Huiskes, Erin (Scott) Kruger, Jessica (Shane) Palmquist, Jace Arndt (fianc Kelli Plymate), and Jeannelle (Mango) Yitagesu; and six great-grandchildren, Jaime and Lilian Palmquist, Joseph Arndt, Myles, Meron and Makenna Yitagesu. She was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Harry; four sisters, Sophie Stubbe, Cornelia Kersbergen, Gladys Fox and Margaret Fleshner; and three brothers, George, Herbert, and Henry Ennenga.