Tressa "Tress" Bloemendaal

Doon, IA: Tressa Bloemendaal, 86, of Doon, Iowa, died Saturday, December 28, 2019, at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley, Iowa. Memorial services will be held Monday, January 6, 2020, at 2:00 PM at Doon United Reformed Church with Rev. Joel Vander Kooi officiating. Private family burial will be held at Hillside Cemetery of Doon prior to the memorial service. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Sunday, January 5, 2020, from 5:00-7:00 PM at Doon United Reformed Church. Memorials may be given to Doon United Reformed Church.

   Tressa was born November 6, 1933 during corn-picking time to John Jr. and Cora (De Boer) Otten, at home, on a farm place between Doon and Rock Valley. Tressa attended Doon Christian School, and after graduating from Western Christian High School, worked at a bakery in Rock Rapids, Iowa – long enough to purchase a kitchen set and most of her furniture.

   She married Nick Bloemendaal March 7, 1952 and moved to the family farm south of Doon – the place they called “home” their entire life. In addition to raising their family of six kids and keeping things going on the farm, she was responsible for keeping not only the dairy equipment clean, but the house, kids, clothes, diapers, and dishes as well – with only cold running water!

   Music was an important part of her life. She enjoyed singing and playing piano – especially the old marches and waltzes she learned as a child; but she always claimed that “music sounds best when it’s from the heart”. In her 50’s, when her family was grown, Tress took a CNA class and began working as a CNA, in addition to helping raise several young grandchildren.

   In 2015, Nick and Tress were involved in a serious car crash, from which neither really recovered. After Nick passed away in 2016, Tress moved to Whispering Heights in Rock Valley. She never regained the ability to walk, but her disposition remained upbeat and encouraging to those around her.

   We laughed at some of her “Tressa-isms” but secretly treasured them. She often spoke of “going home”, her sister, Hester or parents “coming to get her”. We will miss her but rejoice in the fact that she is in heaven, with Jesus, and is being re-united with family and friends gone before her. We celebrate her life, her example to us, and the wonderful memories we have. And we know we will see her again. Blessed be her name.

   Tressa is survived by 5 children; 18 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and 3 on the way:

~Cheryl and Bob Weerheim of Harrisburg, South Dakota

            ~ Matt and Erin Weerheim of Brandon, South Dakota

                        ~Reese and Isaac

            ~Tom and Emily Weerheim of Sioux Falls, South Dakota

                        ~ Charlie

~Cliff and Kathy Bloemendaal of Mendon, Missouri

            ~Valerie and Jesse Gladbach of Mendon, Missouri

                        ~Courtney and Channing

            ~Nikki and Justin Goad of Carrollton, Missouri

                        ~Cole, Wyatt and Paige

            ~Kayla and Doug Thessing of Mascoutah, Illinois

                        ~Cora

~Darla and Gail Van Berkum of Doon, Iowa

            ~Jennifer and Terry De Beer of Ellsworth, Minnesota

            ~Emily and Brian Daoust of Shenandoah, Iowa

                        ~Luke and Ethan

            ~Brittany and Dustin Lindhorst of Omaha, Nebraska

                        ~Case, Emmett, and Tess

~Darrell and Dorri Bloemendaal of Hull, Iowa

            ~Kristin and James De Jong of Hull, Iowa

                        ~Alyssa, Megan, Mattias, and Mikah

            ~Ben and Rochelle Bloemendaal of Rock Rapids, Iowa

                        ~Malachi and Asher

            ~Dan and Shannon Bloemendaal of Doon, Iowa

                        ~Addisyn and Eli

            ~Jon and Rachel Bloemendaal of Rock Valley, Iowa

                        ~Abel and Josiah

            ~Shaylie and Derrick Jansma of Hull, Iowa

~Norwyn Bloemendaal (deceased)

            ~Abbie and Nate Jansma of Inwood, Iowa

                        ~Bentley, Jaxson, and Madalyn

            ~Tasha and Corey Hulstein of Sioux Center, Iowa

                        ~Cambri

~Rick Bloemendaal of Rock Valley, Iowa

            ~Christopher Bloemendaal of Rock Valley, Iowa

            ~Myrissa Bloemendaal of Rock Valley, Iowa

            ~Nathan Bloemendaal of Alvord, Iowa

~daughter-in-law, Gwen (Jamie) Van Voorst of Hull, Iowa

~brother-in-law, Elmer Van Den Top of Rock Valley, Iowa

~special friend since childhood, Gertrude Van Den Top of Hull, Iowa.

Tressa was preceded in death by:

~husband, Nick

~son, Norwyn

~parents, John & Cora Otten

~sister and husband, Hester & Bill Niemeyer

~brothers and sisters (in-law) of Nick:

            ~William (Hilda) Bloemendaal

            ~Eilert (Pearl) Bloemendaal

            ~Jennie (Cornelius) Klarenbeek

            ~Fannie (Rev. John) Riemersma

            ~Margart (Bill) Roghair

            ~Peter (Jennie) Bloemendaal

            ~Grace Van Den Top