Funeral services for Jennie Branderhorst, 85, were held Thursday, Apr. 30, 2015, at the Newton Christian Reformed Church. Jennie died Monday, Apr. 27, at her home in Newton. Memorials have been designated for the Newton Christian School, Wesley Life Hospice, or Rehoboth Christian School in Rehoboth, NM.
Jennie Marie Branderhorst, the daughter of Marion and Hattie (Van Hal) Van Soelen, was born Oct. 19, 1929. Jennie received her teaching certificate from Central College in Pella. She taught elementary school for several years before marriage.
On Nov. 6, 1952, Jennie was united in marriage with William M. Branderhorst in Sully. Jennie was a longtime nurse’s aide at Skiff Medical Center in Newton. She was a member of the Newton Christian Reformed Church where she served in many capacities including Sunday school teacher and GEMS leader. Jennie loved her family deeply. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, crocheting, reading, cooking, and baking. She was always known for delivering her baby roses to hurting friends and shut-ins.
Jennie was preceded in death by her parents and her husband William on Nov. 23, 2008.
Those left to honor Jennie’s memory include her sons, William G. (Margie) Branderhorst of Newton and Mark E. (Lois) Branderhorst of Pella; her daughters, Judith A. (Allen) Nikkel of Urbandale and Joyce E. (Craig) Van Der Wilt of Newton; her 10 grandchildren; her four great-grandchildren; her brothers, Peter Van Soelen, Cornelius Van Soelen, Marion (Jan) Van Soelen, Francis (Karen) Van Soelen, and Robert (Marilyn) Van Soelen; her sisters, Gertrude Van Soelen, Martha Weg, Henrietta Terpstra, and Betty Nikkel; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Marvin (Pauline) Branderhorst, Willa Branderhorst, Esther (Bill) Wellington, and Pearl Van Zee; and her many nieces and nephews.
