Theresa "Tess" Tinklenberg

Theresa Joan Tinklenberg was born February 10, 1939, on the family farm near Rock Valley, Iowa to Shirk and Lena (Stegenga) Jouwstra. She attended country school there until 1947 when the family moved to a farm near Tyler, Minnesota where she attended the country school until the 6th grade. Theresa went to the public school in Tyler and graduated in 1956 from the High School in Tyler. She went on to attend Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa and completed an associate in arts degree on May 28, 1956. Theresa taught school for one year at the Edgerton Christian Elementary School in Edgerton, Minnesota. Theresa met Berton and began their two-year courtship in 1957 and were married August 26, 1959 at the Christian Reformed Church in Tyler, Minnesota. Theresa taught for one year at the Lake Benton Public School. In the early years of marriage, the couple moved to Ontario, California and then Montclair California, in 1968 they returned to Woodstock, Minnesota. When the children were all in school Theresa started working as a cook for Edgebrook Care Center and then for New Life Treatment Center for 27 years. An acreage was purchased in 1971 on the Diamond Corner near Woodstock where they raised their four children, together they took care of family and worked/volunteered at various jobs in the community.

Theresa had a great love for Jesus and brought joy to those around her, she had the unique gift to make everyone she was around feel special. Music, faith and family were central to Theresa’s life, she enjoyed singing, reading, taking walks, sewing clothes for the family, and cross stitch projects. She also enjoyed spending time in her vegetable and flower gardens. Theresa loved making the house smell awesome with home cooked meals and canning. She was resourceful with zucchini, rhubarb, apples and recipe tweaks, spending time with her children as they grew up and later in life along with the grandkids and great grandkids.

In August of 2010 Theresa and Berton moved to Pipestone, Minnesota. Berton preceded her in death on November 3, 2012. Theresa moved to the assisted living in Ridgeview in Pipestone in March 2019 and then to Edgebrook in February 2021. Theresa went with Jesus during her afternoon nap on October 16, 2023.

Theresa was an active member of the American Reformed Church in Woodstock and Pipestone Christian Reformed Church. She served the church playing the piano and organ for many years starting at the age of 12 years old in Tyler, Minnesota. Singing in the choir, leading the choir, teaching Sunday School and Catechism Classes and was a youth sponsor with her husband. Active in Women’s Bible Studies and Pipestone Christian Women’s Club.

She is remembered as a faithful servant of the Lord and an inspiration not only to her children, but to countless others. She is lovingly remembered by her children, Donovan and his wife Karen Tinklenberg of Woodstock, MN, Bradley and his wife Bonnie Tinklenberg of Crystal, MN, Dawn and her husband Thomas Verkaik of Redlands, CA, Brian and his wife Leah Tinklenberg of Tucson, AZ; grandchildren, Sheila Meyrahn, Scott TInklenberg, Nathan Tinklenberg, Hope Garrett, Sara Tinklenberg, Kimberly Lee, Kevin Verkaik and Alysha Humphrey; and 13 great-grandchildren; brother, Frank and his wife Mina Jouwstra of Luverne, MN, Peter and his wife Sharlene Jouwstra of Jenison, MI, Jim and his wife Carole of Sun City, CA; sisters, Janice and her husband George Zant of Omaha, NE, Glenda and her husband Roger of Charlotte, TN and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Berton; parents; infant granddaughter, Heather Renee Verkaik; sister-in-law, Leila and her husband, Alfred Teeselink; sister-in-law, Shirley Jouwstra; brother-in-law, Clarence Doornbos.