Fannie Westra

IRETON, IOWA – Fannie Westra, 89, of rural Ireton, passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Maundy Thursday, April 1, 2021. She was under the care of Hospice in the Sioux Center Hospital after a short illness.

   Fannie was born February 24, 1932 on a farm near Maurice, Iowa, to Case and Winnie (DeJong) Visser. She grew up in Larchwood and later Rock Valley. She graduated from Rock Valley High School in 1949 and Nettleton College in Sioux Falls, SD. 

   She worked as a stenographer and Executive Secretary for John Morell in Sioux Falls, the head of Montgomery Ward Co. in Denver Colorado and at Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah.

   Fannie married Wesley Westra on May 7, 1954 at Rock Valley, Iowa and traveled with him throughout his military service. After leaving the military, they settled on the family farm near Ireton where they farmed together and raised their family. She remained on the family farm until her death. Her husband of 65 years died on March 30, 2020. 

   Fannie was a faithful member of the Ireton Christian Reformed Church and reflected the love of Jesus to all. She was a kind and humble woman, a faithful friend to many, and a devoted wife and mother.  She always remained extremely close with her siblings and they loved to gather, travel, and have fun together. She had a special friend, Thressa DeHaan with whom she continued to correspond weekly for 70 years until her death. 

   Fannie enjoyed her family, baking and decorating cakes, collecting paperweights, gardening, and watching the birds that gathered at the birdhouses and feeders outside her window.

   Left to cherish her memory are her children, Carol Perkins of Duluth, MN, Sandra (Kevin) Hoogland of Merrill, WI, Mary (Bruce) Roetman of Sioux Center and Todd (Nancy Ringsaker) of Ireton; sisters, Harriet (Glenn) Kooiman, Jo Goslinga, and Freddy (Al) Vande Kamp; sister-in-law, Anita Visser; 14 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren.

   She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Wesley; a brother Cornie Visser and a sister Cora Prins; brothers-in-law Dick Prins and Erv Goslinga; a son-in-law Stephan Perkins and a grandson Jason Hoogland. 

   Fannie would most appreciate being remembered as a sinner saved by grace through Jesus Christ her Lord, and going to Heaven during Holy Week is a special comfort to family and friends. 

   With the assurance of the resurrection, funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 7 at the Ireton Christian Reformed Church in Ireton with Rev. Nathan Kuperus officiating. Following committal at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, a luncheon will be served at the church. Visitation at the church will begin at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Due to the Covid 19 pandemic the family requests those in attendance to wear masks at the service and visitation. The Porter Funeral Home in Ireton is assisting the family. 

   In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Ireton Christian Reformed Church to upgrade the sound system, the Ireton Ambulance Service, Hospice, or the charity of your choice.