Tillie Struiksma

TILLIE STRUIKSMA was born on November 7, 1918 to Pete and Clara Reitsma on the family farm in Worthington, Minnesota. She graduated eighth grade at Bigelow Public School. On New Years Day in 1941, Tillie married the love of her life, John Struiksma, at the Christian Reformed Church parsonage in Bigalow. The couple settled into life on the farm near Chandler, Minnesota. Tillie loved her role as a homemaker to the couple’s nine children. She also helped John on the farm worked as a cook at the Chandler Christian School for nearly 20 years. John preceded her in death on October 6, 1981. Tillie continued to live at the couple’s home until moving to Edgebrook Apartments in Edgerton, Minnesota on August 1, 2008. On Sunday, January 29, 2017, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Tillie went to be with her Lord at the age of 98 years, 2 months and 22 days.

Tillie was a member of the Chandler Christian Reformed Church in Chandler, MN. She loved to crochet and paint towels for all her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed a good game of cards and getting together with her friends.

Tillie will be lovingly remembered by her children, Marvin (Carol) Struiksma of Artesia, California, Pete (Sharon) Struiksma of Belflower, California, Sylvia (Darrel) Ruiter of Oakdale, California, Clara Lewis (Royce) of Lakewood, California, John (Irene) Struiksma of Artesia, Robert (Patricia) Struiksma of Belflower, Linda (Dennis) Gilbertson of Leota, Minnesota and Leanne (Ivan) Vander Steen of Tracy, California; 36 grandchildren; 93 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great grandchildren; and her siblings, Minnie Elsing of Worthington, Minnesota, Jeanette Vanden Bosch of Jerome, Idaho and Clara Marie Peters of Sunnyside, Washington. She was preceded in death by her husband, John; daughter, Janice; granddaughter, Delila; one great-granddaughter; five brothers, Carl I, Carl II, Pete I, Pete II and John; three sisters, Ellen, Jeanette I and Jeannette II; and her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, John Elsing, Pete Vogel, Harriet Reitsma, Luella Reitsma, George Peters, Jeanette Reitsma and Marvin Vanden Bosch.