Obituaries
Obituary for G. James Bosma
G. JAMES BOSMA, 86, of Tempe, AZ, formerly of Fulton, IL, died Friday, December 11, 2015, at Desert Banner Medical Center, Tempe, AZ. Jim was born December 25, 1928, in Chicago, IL, to John and Susan (Blystra) Bosma. He attended Roseland Christian Grade Schools and graduated from Chicago Christian High School. He also graduated from Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago and the National Foundation of Funeral Management in Evanston, IL. He served in the Illinois National Guard from 1948 to 1957. Jim married Angeline Mesman on September 14, 1950 in South Holland, IL. He was employed at Henry Vree Certified Grocery Supermart in Chicago from 1944 to 1948 and at the Skeeles Colonial Chapel in Chicago from 1948 to 1963. He then purchased the Sikkema Funeral Home in Fulton, IL, and established Bosma Funeral Home. In 1979, he purchased Tomlinson Funeral Home in Morrison and his son, James D. Bosma joined him in partnership. In 1987, the Renkes-Reynolds Funeral Home of Morrison joined together to establish the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Homes. Jim retired from funeral service on January 1, 1992. He was a member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Fulton, serving several terms as an Elder. He taught Catechism and Sunday School, was a member of the choir and Men"s Bible Study. He actively supported Unity Christian School in Fulton in many ways. He was a member of the Fulton and Friendship Village Kiwanis Clubs from 1963 until his death. He established the Kiwanis Little League Park and started a Bicycle Safety Rodeo to teach children safe bicycle riding as well as licensing each bike. He was a member of Fulton Chamber of Commerce where he served as treasurer from 1963 to 1980. He was a member of Fulton Schmaling Memorial Library Board for 30 years. He established and managed the River Bend Ambulance from 1976 to 1980. He was one of the founders of the Dutch Days Festival committee and in charge of publicity and served as Town Crier in the parade from 1974 to 1990. He served on the Whiteside County Regional Planning Commission and served as Deputy Whiteside County Coroner. He was a member of the National, the Illinois, and the Northern Illinois Funeral Directors Associations. He helped establish the Fulton Community Prayer Breakfast that met at Bush"s Caf" and various churches in Fulton from 1967 to 1987. Survivors include his wife, Angie; two daughters, Carol (Bob) Grussing of Grand Rapids, MI and Linda (John) Veltkamp of Kelso, WA; one son, Jim (LuAnne) Bosma of Morrison, IL; six grandchildren, Sheri (Derrick) Mulder, Lisa (Sean) Hanley, Lora (Jason) Vollink, Brian (Kelly) Bosma, Tyler (Lauren) Veltkamp, Shayna (Chris) Martin and fourteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Gelmer and Nicholas Bosma.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:30 A.M., Saturday, December 19, 2015, at Bethel Christian Reformed Church - Fulton, ILVISITATION: 4:00 to 7:00 P.M., Friday, December 18, 2015, at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral HomeINTERMENT: Fulton Township Cemetery - Fulton, IL
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