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Obituary
Grace Henrietta, the daughter of Hilko and Amanda (Meints) Barkema, was born near Belmond, Iowa, on August 3, 1917. She was one of seven children. Her mother died during childbirth when Grace was fourteen years old, leaving Grace and her sister, Beulah, to help her father raise the other five children, the youngest being four years of age. Grace was educated in the Meservey Consolidated and rural schools and could speak German as well as English.
Grace and Albert Esk were married in the Immanuel Reformed Church on November 10, 1937. She worked as a proofreader for the Wright County Monitor in Clarion for ten years. She was later employed by the Deluxe Products (now Fleet Guard) Company in Lake Mills for fourteen years.
Grace was quite a lady, always wearing a dress. She loved to fish and was known for growing the most beautiful African violets. Grace was very proud of her son, Larry, and his family; she always cut out articles concerning her grandchildren and shared them with others. She was a wonderful historian, keeping track of all the Barkema gatherings, sharing them with all the other relatives.
Her church (Palsville Church—now Immanuel Reformed Church) was a very important part of her life; what she really enjoyed the most was when the entire family would go to church together. Guests who dropped in unexpectedly were always treated to a meal in her home; she was known for her homemade Speken Dicken on New Year’s Day.
Grace is survived by her son, Larry (Karen) Esk of Story City; grandchildren, Laura (Kent) Arnold of Story City, Thomas (Donja) Esk of Ames, and Julie Jo (Brent) Emerson of Huxley; great-grandchildren, Payton and Colton James (C. J.) Arnold and Kelli Jo and Karlee Kate Emerson; three sisters, Beulah Esk of Belmond, Leola Trowbridge of Griffen, Georgia, and Evelyn (Harlan) DeGroote of Mascoutah, Illinois; one brother, Dale (Arlene) Barkema of Clear Lake, Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Grace is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Albert, in 1965; brothers Orval and Bud Barkema; and an infant sister.