Van Walbeek, Annigje “Ann” Oskam - 1931-2011

BOOT, HARVEY, HIXSON, MADDEN, OSKAM, PLEIMA, SCHIPPERS, SEDREL, STAAT, VAN WALBEEK, VANDEN BOS, VAN’T SANT

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 10/20/2024 at 08:18:12

Life’s journey for Annigje Oskam began on May 26, 1931, in Nigtevecht, North Holland, in the Netherlands. She grew up with her parents, Jan and Cornelia Vanden Bos Oskam, in Baambrugge where she attended the Christian School. Johannas Van Walbeek returned to the Netherlands from the United States where he and Ann Oskam were united in marriage on January 17, 1951. He then returned to America and Ann joined him in May, 1951. They began their married life together in Owatonna, Minnesota and to this union five children were born: Wilhelmina Catharina, John Anthonie, Corrine Joann, Mary Ann and Conrad Jay. The family lived on farms near Otley, Iowa; Harvey, Iowa; Newton, Iowa and then again near Otley. They then moved into the Otley Grocery Store building which initially was part grocery store and partly their home.
Ann began working at Pella Corporation in Pella, Iowa when she was 42 years old and continued working there for 21 years. Following her retirement, she and Jo enjoyed every winter in Sunny Florida and for ten summers at the camp grounds at Lake Red Rock working for the Corps of Engineers.
Ann and Jo lived in their residence in Otley for 40 years and in September, 2010, moved into Pella, Iowa. Ann enjoyed working with flowers, always having houseplants in her home. Ann kept her mind sharp spending time on her laptop contacting friends and family in the Netherlands through facebook, email or skype. Ann and Jo’s home was always open for friends and family to stop by for a cup of coffee.
On Wednesday morning, October 19, 2011, Ann passed away unexpectedly at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 80 years. She and Jo were privileged to share 60 years of married life together and he and his five children and their families will cherish her memory. They and their families are: Wilma and Ed Van’t Sant of New Sharon; Jeffrey and Tina Van’t Sant, Kevin and Sheri Van’t Sant, Michael and Stephanie Van’t Sant, Cheryl and Dustin Pleima, John and Carol Van Walbeek of Bluegrass; Julia and John Madden, Joseph and Leah Van Walbeek, Benjamin Van Walbeek, Corrine and Verle Boot of Pella; Keith and Michelle Boot, Kyle and Brenda Boot, Vanessa and Jim Sedrel, Mary Harvey-Hixson and John Hixson of Pleasantville; Christopher and Chelsea Schippers, Zachary Schippers and fiancé, Lindsey Jennings, Conrad and Nicole Van Walbeek of Otsego, Minnesota; Sebastian and Husna Van Walbeek, Spencer Van Walbeek, Samuel Van Walbeek and Ana-Sophia Van Walbeek. Ann leaves two sisters-in-law, Bette (Anthony) Oskam of Newton, Iowa and Adrianna (Cees) Oskam of the Netherlands of her original family.
She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Rachel Joy Van Walbeek, who passed away at the age of 4 years; her parents, Jan and Cornelia Oskam; her two brothers: Anthony Oskam, Cees Oskam and his wife, Truus; and her sister, Mary and her husband, Henry Staat.
Ann was a faithful member of the Otley Reformed Church in Otley, Iowa where she and her husband, Jo, had served the Lord diligently as custodians. Funeral services were held on Monday, October 24, 2011 at the Otley Reformed Church. Arrangements were handled by Van Dyk – Duven Funeral Home.
Published in Oskaloosa (IA) Herald; Friday, October 28, 2011, page 7B