Jeltema, Gladys Mae (Mrs. Peter Dean) 1942-2024

JELTEMA, KLEINHESSELINK, DEVRIES

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/11/2025 at 13:57:01

Mrs. Gladys Jeltema, age 82, of Orange City, passed away on Friday, October 25, 2024, at the Orange City Area Health System, after a very brief battle with cancer.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Wednesday, October 30, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City. There will be a funeral service on Thursday, October 31, at 10:30am, at the Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Orange City, with the Rev. Cody Statema officiating. Following a time of lunch and fellowship, interment will take place at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. The Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City is in charge of arrangements.

Gladys Mae was born on August 27, 1942, in Orange City to Elmer and Dena (Kleinhesselink) De Vries, where she was one of five children. One of her brothers gained his angel wings as an infant. As she left the Earth, her siblings were her best friends, just as they were growing up. She grew up on a farm outside of Newkirk and attended Sioux County grade school in Newkirk. She went to Floyd Valley High School and graduated in 1959.

On April 19,1968 she married Peter Dean Jeltema at the First Reformed Church. They moved to Colorado for one year, where Pete was stationed in the National Guard before moving to Orange City in 1969. Gladys was the proud mother of two children, a dedicated housewife, and also did the bookkeeping for Pete’s mechanic business, Jeltema Service & Repair, for many years. She was a loving caregiver for her soulmate Pete for thirteen years before his passing in 2009, and she has waited eagerly for the day she would be reunited with him. In her later years, Gladys worked at the Pioneer Home, volunteered at Bibles for Missions, the food pantry, and in various roles at her church.

Gladys was a devoted, lifelong member of Immanuel CRC in Orange City. She was quiet and kept to herself, but loved her close friends and family immensely. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy. She loved spending time with them and supporting them, no matter what the activity. She loved playing jokes on her family at Christmas with their gifts. Her 3-month-old great granddaughter, Parker Grace, brought her so much joy on her toughest days. She loved going for walks, working outside, playing games, fixing puzzles, playing piano and reading. She was determined to stay active and independent in recent years, and while being hospitalized these last few weeks, she let everyone know she still mowed her own lawn! It was that ‘can do’ attitude that kept her young so long and she stated many times since her diagnosis that she has been blessed with 82 years of health.

She is survived by a son, Allen (Pam) Jeltema, of Orange City; a daughter, Leanne (Jeremy) Vis, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; four grandchildren, Riley (Dana) Jeltema and Jordyn Jeltema, both of Orange City; Cullen and Larkin Vis, both of Sioux Falls; a great granddaughter, Parker Grace Jeltema, of Orange City; two brothers, Darwin (Mary) De Vries, of Orange City; and Glenn (Yvonne) De Vries, of Newkirk; a brother-in-law, Cleo Te Slaa, of Sheldon; and many cherished nephews and nieces.

In addition to her parents, Elmer and Dena De Vries, she is preceded in death by her husband, Peter Dean Jeltema; her sister Joyce Te Slaa; and an infant brother, Stanley De Vries.

Memorials will be given to Orange City Area Home Health and Hospice or the Orange City Food Pantry.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.