Services
Obituary
Thelma Eekhoff, age 75 of Kanawha, Iowa went to be with her Lord and Savior on March 14, 2009 at Hancock County Memorial Hospital.
Funeral services for Thelma J. Eekhoff will be held on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 1:30 PM at the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church, Kanawha with Pastor Steve Schultz and Rev. Marvin Van Donselaar officiating. Burial will take place in Amsterdam Township Cemetery, Kanawha.
Visitation for Thelma Eekhoff will be held on Monday, March 16, 2009 from 5:00 until 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 118 East Second Street, in Kanawha and will continue one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.
Thelma Joanne Eekhoff, the oldest child of Cornelius and Cornelia (Post) Verhoef, was born on July 5, 1933 in Ocheyedan, Iowa. She was raised on farms, first near Ocheyedan and then near Sanborn, Iowa.
Thelma attended Sanborn Christian Grade School, Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa, and Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa. She became a professing member of the Sanborn Christian Reformed Church in 1951.
Thelma was an elementary teacher at Ocheyedan Christian School, Oskaloosa Christian School, and Kanawha Christian School. In 1958 she met John and they were married on June 9, 1961.
John and Thelma made their home on a farm near Kanawha where she enjoyed raising her family, gardening, keeping the books, and helping with the busy planting and harvest seasons. Later she enjoyed selling produce at farmer’s markets. She loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.
She was a faithful member of the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church and took an active role in its activities. The Kanawha Christian School had a special place in her heart. There she taught, substituted, sent her children, and volunteered. She became known as the “Cookie Lady” to the students because she rewarded them with homemade monster cookies.
Thelma will be lovingly remembered by her husband, John, of more than 47 years and four children: Cathy and her husband Mark of Elmhurst, Illinois; Alan and his wife Lori of Kanawha, Iowa; Byron and his wife Cindy of Pella, Iowa; and David and his wife Melinda of Hull, Iowa; eleven grandchildren: Kimberly and Joy, Andrew, Jeremy, Jonathan, Michael Eekhoff, Mariah, Mitchell, Dylan Eekhoff, Lauren and Alexia Eekhoff; three brothers: Clarence Verhoef and his wife Thelma of Sanborn, Iowa, Vernon and his wife Nan of Newark, New Jersey, Jerry and his wife Deb of Hull, Iowa; two sisters: Leanna Van De Stouwe and her husband LeRoy of Rapid City, South Dakota; Esther Miller and her husband Danny of Omaha, Nebraska; a sister-in-law Rosalee Verhoef of Artesia, California; a brother-in-law Harris Hubers of Minneapolis, Minnesota: and many nephews and nieces.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Herman Verhoef, and her sister Jean Hubers.
A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman, who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels, and her value is far above rubies and pearls. Her children rise up and call her blessed! Proverbs 31