Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017, Peter R. Jochems’ life on earth was complete, and he passed away at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House following a very brief diagnosis. Funeral services were held Thursday, Jan. 26, at Peoria Christian Reformed Church. Interment followed in the Peoria Cemetery with military rites. Memorial contributions may be designated for the mission fund of Peoria Christian Reformed Church
Peter Richard Jochems was born Feb. 28, 1931, near Galesburg. He was a son of Gerrit and Jennie (Bruxvoort) Jochems and his mother passed away in September 1943 when Pete was just 12 years old. Her death had a lasting impact on Pete, and he subsequently was raised by his father, Gerrit, and his stepmother, Emma (Van Wyk) Jochems.
Pete completed the eighth grade at a country grade school and was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War. He began his deployment in August 1952, was wounded in October 1952, and was awarded the purple heart in November 1952. In September 1953, he returned to the states, arriving home unexpectedly, and was discharged in November.
Just prior to his active military service, Pete and Betty Jeanne Roose began a relationship and had continued to correspond. Feb. 4, 1954, they were united in marriage at the Peoria Christian Reformed Church. To this union three children were born. Following their marriage, Pete worked as a hired farmhand in Newton, and then they began renting land near New Sharon. They moved to the Peoria farm in 1968, rented it for a few years, and purchased the farm in the early 1970s. They continued to farm and live there for 49 years. Farming and raising livestock was a lifelong passion of Pete’s, and it was difficult to take the “farm” out of Pete.
Pete and Betty enjoyed many vacations to the states of Michigan and Texas to visit family and also visits to Branson, MO. Pete’s most recent trip was as a part of a Freedom Flight for veterans to Washington, D.C., on Oct. 25, 2011. This experience made his military service complete.
Pete is survived by his wife, Betty J. Jochems; their son, Gary (Carol) Jochems of Sully and their three children: Scott and Becka Jochems and their children: Skyler, Madison, and Colton, Emily Jochems, Erin (Jaren) Nunnikhoven; a daughter-in-law, Barbara Jochems and her two daughters: Rachel and Valerie of Pella; and their daughter, Beverly (Larry) Rossow of Newton and their daughter, Anne (Nate) Kavars. Of his original family, Pete is survived by his brother, Harry (Joyce) Jochems and his sister, Betty Westbrook, all of Newton; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Afton and Rita Roose of Farmersville, TX; as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his son, James Jochems, on June 15, 2006, at the age of 49 years; his mother, Jennie Jochems; his stepmother, Emma Jochems; his father, Gerrit Jochems; his parents-in-law, John and Ella (Nieuwsma) Roose; his brother-in-law, Duane Westbrook; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Shirley (Roose) and James Cormicle.
Pete was a faithful member of the Peoria Christian Reformed Church.
