Esther Cleveringa

ROCK VALLEY, IOWA – Esther Cleveringa, 89, of Rock Valley, passed away on Monday, May 13, 2019 at the Whispering Heights in Rock Valley. Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 18, 2019 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley with Rev. Matthew Haan officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the First Christian Reformed Church. The Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley is assisting the family. The family prefers memorials be directed to the Rock Valley Christian School or Hope Haven in Rock Valley.

   Esther Vanden Bosch, daughter of Lane and Margaret (Lems) Vanden Bosch, was born April 2, 1930, on a farm SE of Rock Valley, Iowa. The family later moved to a farm NW of Rock Valley.  Esther lived there until her marriage to Roger Cleveringa on January 29, 1951 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley.  They moved to the family farm north of Rock Valley. In 1994 they moved into Rock Valley.  Roger passed away December 25, 2010. 

   Esther died May 13, 2019 at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley, where she was cared for by 3 of her great-granddaughters.

   Esther began her teaching career at the age of 17 when filling in for a teacher on maternity leave which later turned into a full-time job. Her years of teaching included Inwood Christian, Rock Valley Christian, Hope Haven, and in the later years as a volunteer through the Foster Grandparent program at Rock Valley Community School teaching English to preschoolers.  She was privileged to teach 3 generations of families, remembering the names and grades of each pupil. She loved her students!

   Esther was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley, where she played organ on Sundays.  She enjoyed sewing, gardening, teaching piano lessons, and directing the Hope Haven choir for 30 years.  Roger and Esther loved watching the activities of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  They watched as many as 5 ballgames in one day, putting many miles on their old Buick, not minding the speed limit to get to their next game.

   Esther is survived by her son, Norm (LaDonna) Cleveringa of Rock Valley; son-in-law, Lee Rozeboom of Inwood, Iowa; son-in-law, Jerry Bosma of Sanborn, Iowa; grandchildren, Chris and Laura Cleveringa of Doon, Iowa, Chad and Alanda Koenen of Rock Valley, Ryan and Jennifer Cleveringa of Lincoln, California, Darin Cleveringa of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Ross and Camy Cleveringa of Rock Valley, Josh Bosma of Sanborn, Mike and Megan Ribbons of South Africa, Sou and Mindy Baccam of Hull, Iowa, Mike and Emily Rozeboom of Inwood, Kelly and Gina Rozeboom of Rock Valley, and Barry and Renea Rozeboom of Sioux Falls; brother, Mike (Nancy) Vanden Bosch of Sioux Center, Iowa; sister, Lenora De Wit of Rock Rapids, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Henny Vanden Bosch of Rock Valley, Nelma Vanden Bosch of Worthington, Minnesota, and  Marilyn Vander Schaaf of Rock Valley; 33 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, Lane and Margaret; husband of 59 years, Roger; daughters, Marcella Bosma and Marcia Rozeboom; infant granddaughter, Jill Marie Rozeboom; granddaughter, Shawn Rozeboom; brothers, Rev. Tom (Laura) Vanden Bosch, Art Vanden Bosch, Bert (Lois) Vanden Bosch, and Floyd Vanden Bosch; sisters, Tillie (George) Dorhout, and Grace (George) Haney; brother-in-law, John “Dutch” De Wit; and sister-in-law, Joanne (Henry) Brinks.