Laura M. Oldenkamp, age 81 of Austin, MN formerly of Ashton, passed away on Friday evening, August 30, 2024 at the Our House Assisted Living in Austin.
Memorial Services will be held at 4 PM Sunday, September 22, 2024 at the Ashton Bible Church in Ashton. There will be a family visitation one hour before the service at the church on Sunday afternoon.
Jurrens Funeral Home of Ashton is in charge of arrangements.
Laura Mae Oldenkamp was born October 6, 1942, near Sanborn. She was the daughter of Andrew Sr. and Jennie (Verhoef) Siedsma. Laura was the seventh of nine children with 7 older half-brothers and sisters. When she was less than 5 months old her family moved to a farmstead 1 mile north and east of Melvin, Iowa. When she was 14, they moved into Melvin. Then in June 1959 her family moved to Woodstock, IL. At that time, she was dating Jim Oldenkamp, and he followed her to Woodstock where they were married on the 22nd of January 1960. They moved to Archer IA, to begin farming, where they soon moved to Jim’s parents Homestead and began a family. Laura was a homemaker and cared for her children. Early on she found herself almost crippled with pain unable to pick up her child. It was then she began devoting her life to health and restoration. She is known for her business she built with Shaklee products and offering help through reflexology. She touched many lives that way. During this period was when she realized she was missing something and one evening while lying in bed asked Jesus into her heart. She said she felt a warmth come over her, she woke Jim up and told him about it. Since then, her life has been all about helping others, hosting taco parties and serving wherever she could. Later in life she began showing signs of dementia and declined rapidly. Laura graduated to glory while in memory care at “Our House” of Austin, MN, and hospice on August 30th, 2024.
Those left to cherish her memories are her children: Kevin and Kristen Oldenkamp of Austin, MN; their children Kelsey and Kassidy; Kelly and Meadow Oldenkamp of Dayton, TX; his children Caresse, Elisha and Tanner; Chad and Vonda Clements of Nevada, TX; their children Cody, Kayloni, and Chelsea; Jason and Stephanie Meyer of Warrensburg, MO; their child Mykaila; Matt and Theresa Dykstra of Platte, SD; their children David and John. 10+ Great Grandchildren. Siblings JoAnn McHolland of Issaquah, WA; Norma Siegersma of Nampa, ID; Earl Siedsma of Elgin, IL; Richard and Charlotte Siedsma of Summersville, MO.
She was preceded in death by her Spouse: James Oldenkamp, Parents Andrew Sr. and Jennie Siedsma, Stepbrothers and Stepsisters: Elizabeth (Siedsma) Statema, Florence (Siedsma) Sorenson, Anne (Siedsma)Verhoef, Raymond Siedsma, Clarence Siedsma, Martha Siedsma, Derk “Richard” Siedsma, Dora (Siedsma) Survoitz. Brothers and Sisters: John Siedsma, Andrew Jr. Siedsma, Paul Siedsma, Linda (Siedsma) Russell.
