Wilberta "Berta" Rietema

Wilberta Jo Rietema, age 94, went home to be with her Lord on August 7, 2022.

Funeral services will be held 4:00 PM Friday, August 12, 2022 at Kanawha Christian Reformed Church, 129 E 3rd St, Kanawha. Burial will be at the Amsterdam Cemetery in Kanawha.

Visitation will be held one hour prior to services at the church.

Berta was born on March 4, 1928, to Henry and Stella (Greenfield) Stoffer on a farm near Alexander, Iowa. She was the eighth child in a family of ten children. The last three were affectionately known as “the three little kids,” and Berta was often called “Dimples.” She loved playing the saxophone, playing basketball as a forward, and singing in choir and small groups all through junior high and high school. She graduated in 1946.

Soon after graduation, her pastor introduced her to his nephew John. John and Berta were married June 12, 1947 and she began her life as a farmwife. They were active members of the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church. Berta taught Sunday School and was very involved in Ladies Aid and Coffee Break nursery. Music was a big part of her life, and she enjoyed singing in choir, small groups and on praise team at church. She enjoyed visiting the residents at the Kanawha Community Home, and faithfully brought them the church bulletins. She was also a chaplain at the American Legion Auxiliary.

Berta had a deep relationship with her Lord and Savior. She was faithful in her daily devotions, praying for her family, and she loved Bible studies, always studying the lesson and being prepared with answers to the questions. Her greatest joy was to be a mother and to raise her six children to love Jesus. Taking care of her children, grandchildren, and many other children as well, brought her great delight. She was a natural with children, and that was her gift. She loved cheering on her children and grandchildren in music and sports and most of all, always encouraging them as they grew in their faith and their spiritual walk with the Lord and in their service to him.

Berta had a love for life and God's creation. She really enjoyed caring for her yard and flowers and feeding and watching the birds. In her retirement years she enjoyed riding her bike and taking friends for golf cart rides all around town. She loved reading and learning about living a healthy lifestyle. Taking pictures and making scrapbooks filled many quiet days for her. As her health declined, she moved into assisted living at the Summit House in Britt, Iowa. She was known for all the walks she took up and down the hallways. She enjoyed the activities, especially Bible study and competing in the bean bag toss. She never lost her competitiveness, always wanting to do her best!

After her second stroke, Berta became a resident of the Kanawha Community Home in April of 2021. She lost the ability to do many things, but God was faithful to her. We, as her family, are so thankful for all the caregivers who showed love and kindness to our mom these last four years. We are praising God now for calling her to her eternal Home.

Berta is survived by her 6 children: Char Schreur, Steve (Jo) Rietema, Kay (C.J.) Verbrugge, Den (Cher) Rietema, Doug (Cindy) Rietema, Joy (Jon) Hall, 24 grandchildren, and 61 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings and their spouses, her husband John in 2001, her son-in-law Bob Schreur in 2001, and several precious preborn grandchildren.