Robert Braaksma, 90, formerly of Lynnville and rural New Sharon, passed away Sunday morning, Jan. 10, 2016, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14, at Lynnville Friends Church. Burial will be in the Woodland Cemetery in Lynnville. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Grinnell Regional Hospice.
Robert "Bob" Braaksma, the son of John and Carrie (Van Wyk) Braaksma, was born the eldest of 10 children on July 1, 1925, in rural Sully. He attended country school in the Lynnville area. On Jan. 7, 1947, Bob was united in marriage to Jennett Williams at her home in rural Taintor. To this union three boys were born, Gene, Curtis, and Ron. Bob worked as a farmhand before purchasing land from his father-in-law and farming 40 years. Bob also worked several years at the Searsboro Elevator. Jennett passed away Feb. 11, 1994. He then was married to JoAnn DeHoedt, and she passed away Nov. 9, 2014. Bob enjoyed dancing, camping, attending flea markets, coffee time, and spending time with his family. He was also an avid hunter and fisherman, taking several fishing trips to Canada. Bob was a member of Lynnville Friends Church. He was on the Lynnville Telephone Board and the Poweshiek County Fair Board where he was a swine supervisor.
His memory will be honored by his children: Gene Braaksma, Curtis (Jann) Braaksma, and Ron Braaksma, all of Lynnville; stepchildren, Dale (Debbie) DeHoedt, Dean (Dodie) DeHoedt, and Diane DeHoedt; four grandchildren: Todd (Toni) Braaksma, Christine (Jason) Forret, Lesley (Steve) Beerends, and Maren Braaksma; six great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Larry Braaksma of Newton; his sisters: Frances Enyart of Georgia and Leona Nielsen of Chariton.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents; two wives, Jennett Braaksma and JoAnn Braaksma; a grandson, Ryan Braaksma; brothers, Gysbert "Bud" Braaksma, Carroll "Butch" Braaksma, Louis Braaksma, and Wayne Braaksma; and two sisters, Viola Mae and Gertrude Hites.
