Christina Steenhoek, 81, passed away at The Cottages in Pella on Thursday morning, June 21, 2018. Funeral services were held Monday, June 25, at Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Interment was in Evergreen Cemetery at Leighton. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are preferred for the Calvary Christian Reformed Church or Wesley Life Hospice.
Christina (Chris) Vande Voort was born Oct. 21, 1936, in Jasper County. She was the second of six children born to Everett and Harriet (Dieleman) Vande Voort. Chris attended Jasper County Country Schools and Newton High School. She was baptized and made profession of her faith in Sully Christian Reformed Church. After graduation, Chris worked in the office at Newton Manufacturing in Newton.
On Jan. 7, 1960, she was united in marriage with Gerrit Benjamin Steenhoek and they moved to Leighton, where she helped her husband farm. After her children: Barbara, Ruth, Gloria, and Phyllis were of school age, Chris was employed at Ron’s Grocery Store in Oskaloosa and in Pella as a baker. She also worked at T & D Department Store until 1995, when she became the day care provider for her grandchildren.
Chris and Gerrit moved into Pella in 1980 to take care of Gerrit’s parents, Andrew and Gertie (Groenendyk) Steenhoek, who were in failing health. Chris enjoyed bird watching, and they loved to travel both domestically to Branson, MO, and internationally to Europe. Chris was a member of a Bible Study Society at Calvary Christian Reformed Church and served in the nursery for the morning Coffee Break for many years.
Chris loved music, and the old hymns held a special place in her heart. She enjoyed occasional outings for coffeetime and lunches with her friends. In 2010, Chris showed signs of failing health and was diagnosed with dementia in 2011. Gerrit faithfully attended to her needs until March 2018 when she became a resident at The Cottages in Pella.
Chris and Gerrit mourned the loss of their daughter, Ruth Vandenberg, in May 2000 and their son-in-law, Larry (Fritz) Meyer, in 2011.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband for 58 years, Gerrit; three daughters and their families: Barbara (Bruce) Nunnikhoven of Leighton, Gloria (Larry) Meyer of Ankeny, and Phyllis Van Gilst of Pella; and her son-in-law Tom Vandenberg of Pella;
Her original family still living includes her brother, Ronald Vande Voort of Pella; her sisters: Lois Harthoorn of Pella and Lucille Vos of Pella; and her sister-in-law, Carolyn Vande Voort of Sully. She also leaves the following sisters-in-law: Berneda Steenhoek of Pella, Margaret De Koning of Leighton, and Elizabeth Uitermarkt of Pella; and several nieces and nephews.
Besides her daughter and son-in-law, Chris was preceded in death by her parents; a sister, Louise; her brother, Larry Vande Voort; her sister-in-law, Jan Vande Voort; and her brothers-in-law, Melvin Harthoorn and Ron Vos; her parents-in-law, Andrew and Gertie Steenhoek; and the following brothers-in-law: Marvin Steenhoek, Carroll De Koning, and Dorell Uitermarkt.
