Josephine De Jager

Rock Valley, IA: Josephine De Jager, 82, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Wednesday, October 21, 2015 at St. Mary’s Hospital at Rochester, Minnesota. Memorial service will be Monday, October 26, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at First Reformed Church at Rock Valley with Rev. Garry Nyenhuis officiating. Private family burial will be held prior to memorial service at Valley View Cemetery at Rock Valley. Visitation, with family present, will be Sunday, October 25, 2015 at Porter Funeral Home at Rock Valley from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Memorials may be given to Hope Haven and condolences may be left for the family at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Josephine Ann Bliek, daughter of Bert and Grace (Ver Doorn) Bliek, was born October 23, 1932 near Inwood, Iowa. She graduated from Rock Valley High School. On February 15, 1952 Jo was united in marriage with Vern De Jager at Rock Valley. The couple farmed near Hudson, South Dakota in 1954 until moving to Rock Valley in 1960. Jo worked for Harvard Industries, K-Products, and then spent 28 years at Hope Haven, which she retired from in 2002 after serving as a life skills coordinator at Double H Manufacturing. Jo loved camping, making foot pillows for grandchildren, doing needlepoint on dish towels and vacationing in the Black Hills. She was a member of Rock Valley First Reformed Church and the Mary’s Circle Bible Study. Jo’s pride and joy were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jo is survived by her 5 children, Karen (Lee) Kooima of Rock Valley; Dennis (Pam) De Jager of Rock Valley; Kathy Mosier of Sutherland, Iowa; Bonnie (Marlan) Hoogendoorn of Rock Valley; and Gary (Carla) De Jager of Rock Valley; 19 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers, Arie (Darlene) Bliek of Larchwood, Iowa and Herb (Mina) Bliek of Rock Valley; and 1 sister, Grace (Ferrell) Boyles of Hawarden, Iowa.

Jo was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Vern; infant daughter, Patricia Joy; daughter, Verna Harry; granddaughter, Amber Mosier; great-grandchildren, Grace Feenstra, Cody, Katie, and Mandi Vande Kieft; and 3 sisters, Henrietta Allen, Elsie Jacobsma, and Bertha Mae Feekes.