Bernadine Den Hartog, age 91, of Sheldon, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Funeral Services will be Wednesday, June 25, 2014 at 10:30 A.M. at the Bethel Reformed Church in Sheldon. Mr. Cory Grimm and Rev. Tim Truesdell officiating.
Burial to follow at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon.
Visitation will be Tuesday, June 24, from 2:00 to 8:00 P.M. with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Andringa Funeral Home Sheldon Funeral Service in Sheldon.
Online Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to www.andringafuneralhome.com
The Andringa Funeral Home Sheldon Funeral Service in charge of arrangements for Bernadine Den Hartog.
Bernadine “Berdie” Den Hartog was born on February 14, 1923 in Sanborn, Iowa, the daughter of Peter and Gertrude (De Boer) Kooistra. She lived her youth in Sanborn where she attended Sanborn Christian Grade School. When Berdie was 15 years old, she moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan and worked with the World War II effort and later as a nanny. She contracted rheumatic fever and returned home. She then attended Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa, graduating in 1945. She taught geography at Rock Valley Christian School for a half year before moving back to Sanborn, Iowa. During World War II Berdie began a letter writing courtship with Robert Den Hartog of Sheldon, Iowa while he was serving in Europe. They were united in marriage on November 27, 1946, in the Sanborn Christian Reformed Church. They lived and farmed south, north, and northeast of Sheldon. They retired in 1986 and moved to town.
Berdie had a passion for sewing, making baby blankets and over a hundred quilts. In the last few years she sewed over 3000 items that were sent to Haiti. She enjoyed music and sang with the Senior Saints for 25 years. She volunteered at the Village Treasure Chest for 27 years.
A charter member of Bethel Reformed Church in Sheldon, she was a Sunday School, Bible School and Catechism teacher, and active in choir, Bible Study and Women’s Guild. She was a member of Farm Bureau Women and the Christian Retirement Home Auxiliary.
Berdie will be remembered by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren for her love of family and her strong Christian faith.
She passed away on Saturday, June 21, 2014 at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota surrounded by family members.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband of 67 years, Robert Den Hartog of Sheldon, IA; her 8 children: Lorna Neerhof (Lee) of Neenah, WI, Gayle Roelfs (Bruce) of Sheldon, IA, Jim Den Hartog (Eloise) of Boyden, IA, Marlys Grimm (Norm) of Newton, IA, Karen Alderink (Tim) of Holland, MI, Brenda Krahling (Jeff) of Sibley, IA, Mary Ginn of Jewell, IA, Tim Den Hartog (Gail) of Canton, SD; 29 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren; one sister: Jackie Tuinstra of Jenison, MI; two brothers: Sid Kooistra (Joanne) of Jenison, MI, Jim Kooistra of Eldorado, CA; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters: Anne Homkes (Judd), Gert Bloomer (Harold), two brothers: Clarence Kooistra (Effie) (2nd wife, Anne) and Jake Kooistra; two brothers-in-law: Arnold Bruinsma and Mike Tuinstra.
