Bessie Fortuin Jansen was born on March 1, 1911, to Ruurd "Roy" and Jennie (Rozendaal) Fortuin in Crookston, Minnesota. Her family moved to Iowa when she was two weeks old and she lived in the Sully area until 2000. She passed away Saturday morning, July 9, 2011, at her residence in the Hilltop Manor.

Bessie received her education through the eighth grade from the Iron Clad School south of Sully on the county line. On February 18, 1936, Bessie was united in marriage with Herman Jansen in Sully, Iowa. They were blessed with five children: Janice, Joyce, Ivan, Lois, and Bryce.

Bessie enjoyed being a wife and homemaker and cooking and baking for her family. She would often be found sewing, quilting, crocheting or playing games with her friends at Hilltop. Bessie liked to work in her garden, and go bowling, fishing, and traveling in her earlier years. It could best be summed up that Bessie was happy and content with her lot in life. She confessed her faith at a young age and was a life-long member of the First Reformed Church of Sully.

Those left to cherish her memory are her children, her 17 grandchildren, 46 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-granchildren, her sister-in-law Nellie Harthoorn of Pella, Iowa, and her brother-in-law John Vos of Sacramento, California.

She was preceded in death by her parents; by her husband, Herman in 1984; her son, Ivan Jansen; her daughter, Joyce Van Wyk; her grandson, Curtis Vander Leest; two great-grandchildren; her sisters Cora De Kruyff, Rika Van Maanen, Marie Terpstra, and Jennie Vander Weerdt; and numerous other relatives.

Bessie will be remembered for her kind and gentle nature, and will be missed by her large family and many friends.

Family:

Janice and Don Cross of Newton
Debra Smith and Dan Cross

Joyce (deceased) and Larry and Sharon Van Wyk of Searsboro
Rindy Vander Schel, Glenda Van Woerkom,
Darla Van Kooten, and Lauren Van Wyk

Ivan (deceased) and Shirley and Don Orthner of South Carolina
Gregory Jansen, Shelly Fincannon, Sherry Miller,
Heather Pitts, and Darren Jansen

Lois and Irvin Vander Leest of Reasnor
Kent Vander Leest, Jody Stravers, and Carol Collins

Bryce and Linda Jansen of Leighton
Kimberly Epley, Michelle Gritters,
and Shawna Tolsma

FUNERAL SERVICES

10:30 A.M., Thursday, July 14, 2011
First Reformed Church
Sully, Iowa

VISITATION

After Noon, Wednesday, July 13, 2011
With family present 5:30-8:00 P.M.
Garden Chapel Funeral Home
Sully, Iowa

MEMORIALS

:
Sully First Reformed Church or
A charity of your choice

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