Obituary Listings

GLADYS VENEMA, 95, of The Alverno in Clinton, IA, formerly of Fulton, IL, died Monday, June 8, 2020, at her daughter’s home in Fulton surrounded by family.

A private family graveside service will be held at Fulton Township Cemetery in Fulton, IL with Mr. Ken Renkes officiating. The Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later time. A memorial to the Brothers and Sisters in Christ in Fulton, IL, has been established by the family.

Gladys was born October 1, 1924, in Fenton, IL, to Peter J. and Jennie (Huizenga) Dykstra. She was educated in the rural Whiteside County grade schools and was a 1942 graduate of Erie High School in Erie, IL. She married Robert Brondyke in 1943 in Fulton, IL. She later married Elmer E. Venema on January 4, 1975, in Bethany, MO. He died on November 22, 2010. Gladys worked as a waitress at various restaurants around the area. She was employed by the former A.C. Nielsen Clearing House in Clinton, IA. She was a member of First Christian Reformed Church in Fulton and the church’s Rebecca Society. Gladys enjoyed quilting and spending time with family, especially her grandchildren.

Survivors include two daughters, Sharon (Ben) Marruffo of Rock Falls, IL and Shirley (John) Wierenga-Huber of Fulton, IL; one stepdaughter, Janet York of Fort Myers, FL; one stepson, William (Kristi) Venema of Surprise, AZ; ten grandchildren, Steve (Cristen) Schipper, Rob (Joan) Huber, Renay (Dan) Byers, Becki (Javier) Plaza-Venema, Amy (Chad) Burford, Kami (Derrin) Huizenga, Bradley (Cristal) Venema, Cory (Angela) Marruffo, Jennifer (Chris) Higgins, and Melissa (Tony) Whitlow; twenty-five great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Elmer; one son-in-law, Ken Wierenga; one step son-in-law, Dr. George York; one sister, Marcia Hook; three brothers, Jacob P. Dykstra, John P. Dykstra, and Joseph Dykstra in infancy.

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