Margaret Teunissen

Rock Valley, IA: Margaret Teunissen, 87, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Friday, April 10, 2020, at Hegg Health Center in Rock Valley. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the state and federal guidance on gatherings of no more than 10 people, Margaret’s family will be holding a private family funeral service on Tuesday, April 14 at 10:00 AM with Rev. Matthew Haan from First Christian Reformed Church of Rock Valley officiating. Private family burial will be held at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Public viewing, with no family present, and limited to 10 people at a time practicing social distancing, will be at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley from 12:00 to 6:00 PM, Monday, April 13, 2020. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Hope Haven.

The public is invited to watch the service on Premier Communications Channel 76 in Rock Valley or livestream the service at http://www.firstcrcrv.org/ and click the “listen online” tab.

   Margaret was born to William and Hattie (Vermeer) Vis on February 18, 1933 near Hull, Iowa, where she grew up on a farm south of town. Margaret was the youngest of 12 children in her family. She graduated from Western Christian High School in 1949. Margaret enjoyed singing and playing the piano. After high school, Margaret met and fell in love with Harold S. Van Otterloo. Margaret and Harold were married on October 23, 1953 at the Protestant Reformed Church in Hull. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Peter Vis, Margaret’s brother, and Rev. S. Cammenga, Margaret’s brother-in-law. The newlyweds made their home in Canton, South Dakota for a short time and then moved to Rock Valley, Iowa. Harold was employed as a bookkeeper. Harold and Margaret had two sons, Bill and Steve. Harold died in December 1962. Margaret worked as a secretary for First Christian Reformed Church and then for Rock Valley Christian School. She also worked a couple of years in Life Skills at Hope Haven. Margaret moved to Montana in 1973 and worked as a secretary for Manhattan Christian High School. Love and family would bring her back to Northwest Iowa. Margaret married Jake Teunissen on July 11, 1975 on Jake’s family farm near Doon. In addition to Jake, Margaret welcomed Jake’s four children to the family, Janice, Joyce, LaVonne, and Jay. After Jake retired from farming, the couple moved to Rock Valley.  They enjoyed traveling to Gospel music concerts within the Midwest. 

   Margaret was a prayer warrior for all of her family. She prayed daily for each family member by name and loved them unconditionally. She prayed in the middle of the night for anyone God laid on her heart. Margaret opened her home as a young widow to be a foster parent for Rodney and Debbie Visser, who were attending Hope Haven. She was always able to see God’s goodness in others. Due to health issues, Jake moved to Whispering Heights in November 2016. Margaret went faithfully every day to spend the day with Jake and became one of the nursing home family. When Margaret started developing health issues, it was an easy transition. She moved to Whispering Heights in August 2019 and called it home. Margaret loved being a part of the body of Christ at First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley. She also loved reading the Bible and listening to Gospel music. Margaret was a faithful witness to the love of Jesus Christ and the joy of having eternal life. God took Margaret to her forever home on Good Friday, April 10, 2020.

   “But if we know Christ, we know that death is not the end. Because of his death and resurrection, we have hope—hope of heaven and hope of being safely in God’s presence forever.” Billy Graham (clipping found in Margaret’s papers)

   Margaret is survived by her husband, Jake Teunissen; children, Bill (Nancy) Van Otterloo, Steve (Wanda) Van Otterloo, Janice (Loy) Van’t Hul, Joyce (Steve) Richter, Jay (Anita) Teunissen; son-in-law Mark Bakker; 20 grandchildren; 34 great-grandchildren; siblings, John Vis and Cornelia Vander Molen; and sisters-in-law, Gert (Ed) Vis and Edith (Walt) Vis.

   She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Hattie; husband, Harold; daughter, LaVonne Bakker; grandson Kristopher Richter, grandson Dustin Bakker; brothers, Pete Vis, Ed Vis, Walt Vis, and Gerrit Vis; and sisters, Elizabeth Zevenbergen, Henrietta Cammenga, Nell Vis, Gertrude Franken, and Kathryn Van Kley.