Ida D. (Van Kooten) Harsselaar, 88, formerly of Sully, passed away Sunday, Sept. 25, 2016, at her residence in The Cottages in Pella.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Sept. 28, at Sully Christian Reformed Church. Interment was in Sully Cemetery. Memorial contributions are preferred for Sully Christian School per Ida’s request.
Ida Dorothy Van Kooten was a daughter of Cornelius and Jennie (Dieleman) Van Kooten. She was born May 27, 1928, near Sully. Ida attended Sully Christian School and was baptized and made profession of her faith at Sully Christian Reformed Church. As a young girl, she worked out of the home until later returning to assist her family with responsibilities. May 31, 1947, she was united in marriage with Alberthus Dick Harsselaar and to this union seven children were born. Ida and Alberthus farmed in the Sandridge, Reasnor, and Lynnville areas. In 1969, Alberthus suffered his first heart attack, which limited what he could do. Ida actively assisted with the milking and farming responsibilities and then began working at the Coffee Cup Cafe in Sully. In 1981, Alberthus suffered a second heart attack, which prevented him from working, at which time they moved into Sully. Alberthus passed away on Sunday, Nov. 11, 1990, nine days following his 65th birthday. Ida continued working at the Coffee Cup where during her 30+ years of employment there had baked some 37,440 pies. She followed and supported her family with their sports activities and during that time had baked buckets of cookies for her grandchildren. Her baking skills with breads, buns, and donuts will long be remembered by her family. In 2013, Ida suffered a stroke which necessitated care, and she became a resident in the Long Term Care Unit at Pella Regional Health Center. Subsequently, she became a resident at The Cottages in Pella where she was lovingly cared for until she went Home peacefully with her children surrounding her on Sept. 25.
Ida is survived by seven children: Karen (Richard) Van Manen of Reasnor, Velda (Beryl) Dunsbergen of Sully, Myra (Bryan) Rozendaal of Sully, Kathy (Boyd) Arthur of Lynnville, Dwight (Kim) Harsselaar of Lynnville, Brenda (Michael) Terpstra of Lynnville, and Doyle Harsselaar of Searsboro; 17 grandchildren; and 38 great-grand-children. Of her original family of nine siblings, Ida leaves the following brothers and sisters: Henry (Virginia) Van Kooten of Pella, Cornelia (Charlie) Jansen of Grand Rapids, MI, Delia (Johnnie) De Jong of Sully, Delmer (Wilma) Van Kooten of Pella, Norma (Carroll) Harthoorn, and Edward (Judy) Van Kooten, all of Sully; and sisters-in-law, Lois (Clarence Van Kooten) and her husband, Norman Van Wyk of Pella and Elizabeth (Gerald) Van Hemert of Sully; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Ida was preceded in death by her husband; her father and mother; two brothers: Clarence Van Kooten and Daniel Van Kooten; her sister, Jean and her husband, Kenneth Vos; and her parents-in-law, Bert and Jennie (De Koning) Harsselaar.
Ida was a lifelong member of Sully Christian Reformed Church where she had been active with the GEMS and a member of the Ruth Circle.
