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Alice Koolstra went to her heavenly home on December 3, 2011, at the age of 93. She was born on March 22, 1918, in Bejou, Minnesota to Luite and Gertrude terWisscha. Her parents were immigrants from Harderwijk, Netherlands. Alice was the fifth of seven children.
In the fall of 1918, the farm where she was born was destroyed by a prairie fire. Alice was carried from the fire by her father in a blanket. From there the family lived with neighbors until they were able to rebuild a farm where Alice continued to grow up.
In 1936, Alice married William John Koolstra (Bill) and moved to the Euclid, Minnesota area and lived on a farm where they share cropped animals, grain and still worked the farm with horses and tractor part-time.
In 1942, Bill and Alice purchased a farm north of Crookston, Minnesota. They grain farmed at that location for 22 years. During that time, Alice was a homemaker raising their family, involved in their church and Homemakers Club. They always welcomed many people in their home.
In 1964, the family moved to Campbell, California. Alice and Bill were married for 55 years. Bill passed away on January 9, 1992. Alice was always actively involved in their church, led women's and children's Bible study classes, a wonderful neighbor and friend to those around her, a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. Alice continued to live in their family home until her passing on December 3.
During the last years, Alice was a volunteer with Crossroad Bible Institute. This involved a Bible study by mail with prison inmates. She loved this ministry and it gave her much purpose during a time when she was more confined to her home. Alice was honored with an article called On The Journey "Waking Up" written by a prison inmate and published the day before she died. It can be found online by entering: Banner Publication - On The Journey "Waking Up".
Alice is survived by her five children: Gert (Vern) Swiers of Dublin, CA, Aggie (Bud) Lien, Willie (Kathleen) Koolstra, Len (Laviena) Koolstra all of San Jose, CA, and Alvin (Rebecca) of Reno, Nevada. Also, surviving are 1 granddaughter and 8 grandsons, 19 great grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 15 step-great-grandchildren. Alice is survived by one sister, Albertha Bendickson, of Bejou, Minnesota, two sisters-in-law, Frieda Koolstra of Grand Forks, ND and Johanna Koolstra of Plymouth, MN, and many nieces and nephews.
A viewing was held at Campbell Memorial Chapel, 231 E. Campbell, Campbell, CA on December 9 from 5 - 9:00 pm. A funeral/ memorial service and reception - a celebration of her life - was held at 1:00 pm on December 10 at the San Jose Christian Reformed Church, 5150 Camden Ave., San Jose, CA 95124.
In memory of Alice, donations may be made to Crossroad Bible Institute, POB 900, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49509.
Alice Koolstra went to her heavenly home on December 3, 2011, at the age of 93. She was born on March 22, 1918, in Bejou, Minnesota to Luite and Gertrude terWisscha. Her parents were immigrants from Harderwijk, Netherlands. Alice was the fifth of seven children.
In the fall of 1918, the farm where she was born was destroyed by a prairie fire. Alice was carried from the fire by her father in a blanket. From there the family lived with neighbors until they were able to rebuild a farm where Alice continued to grow up.
In 1936, Alice married William John Koolstra (Bill) and moved to the Euclid, Minnesota area and lived on a farm where they share cropped animals, grain and still worked the farm with horses and tractor part-time.
In 1942, Bill and Alice purchased a farm north of Crookston, Minnesota. They grain farmed at that location for 22 years. During that time, Alice was a homemaker raising their family, involved in their church and Homemakers Club. They always welcomed many people in their home.
In 1964, the family moved to Campbell, California. Alice and Bill were married for 55 years. Bill passed away on January 9, 1992. Alice was always actively involved in their church, led women's and children's Bible study classes, a wonderful neighbor and friend to those around her, a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. Alice continued to live in their family home until her passing on December 3.
During the last years, Alice was a volunteer with Crossroad Bible Institute. This involved a Bible study by mail with prison inmates. She loved this ministry and it gave her much purpose during a time when she was more confined to her home. Alice was honored with an article called On The Journey "Waking Up" written by a prison inmate and published the day before she died. It can be found online by entering: Banner Publication - On The Journey "Waking Up".
Alice is survived by her five children: Gert (Vern) Swiers of Dublin, CA, Aggie (Bud) Lien, Willie (Kathleen) Koolstra, Len (Laviena) Koolstra all of San Jose, CA, and Alvin (Rebecca) of Reno, Nevada. Also, surviving are 1 granddaughter and 8 grandsons, 19 great grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, 6 step-grandchildren, 15 step-great-grandchildren. Alice is survived by one sister, Albertha Bendickson, of Bejou, Minnesota, two sisters-in-law, Frieda Koolstra of Grand Forks, ND and Johanna Koolstra of Plymouth, MN, and many nieces and nephews.
A viewing was held at Campbell Memorial Chapel, 231 E. Campbell, Campbell, CA on December 9 from 5 - 9:00 pm. A funeral/ memorial service and reception - a celebration of her life - was held at 1:00 pm on December 10 at the San Jose Christian Reformed Church, 5150 Camden Ave., San Jose, CA 95124.
In memory of Alice, donations may be made to Crossroad Bible Institute, POB 900, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49509.
