Hermina Lucille Stursma was the fourth of seven children born August 19, 1933, to Pete and Jennie (Swank) Van Kooten, north of Lynnville, Iowa. She was baptized as a young child at the Sully Christian Reformed Church. Her parents moved west of Oskaloosa when she was a year old. She attended Brushy Street School through the fifth grade. Her parents then moved to a farm near Rose Hill, where she graduated from 8th grade. After that, she cleaned homes for various people.

On November 29, 1952, she married the love of her life William L. Stursma at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. Together they moved to Colorado Springs and then onto Denver where she worked at a bakery while Bill finished his service in the Army working at Fitzsimons Army Hospital. After Bill was honorably discharged from the Army, they moved to a home north of Pella and in 1954 they moved to a farm east of Pella, where their four children were born: Sheryl, Alan, Debra, and Ronald. In 1967 they moved to Pella where they lived on North Main for 48 years. In 2014 they moved to a duplex. Hermina worked for 25 years at Pella Corp. before she retired. Her family has fond memories of her beautiful goody trays, festive Christmas stockings, and delicious treats for Halloween.

Hermina and Bill were blessed with four children, 15 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren.

Hermina’s family:

Sherry (Rodger) Braafhart of Pella

Michelle (Darin) Wogen

Shannon Braafhart

Brett (Kaylee) Braafhart

The late Alan (Kathy) Stursma of Pella

Ami (Troy) Fisher

Chad (Jaclyn) Stursma

Debbie (Doug) Denburger of Oskaloosa

Ryan (Kelsey) Denburger

Matt (Kara) Denburger

Alan Denburger

Grant Denburger

Ron (Jacki) Stursma of Ottumwa

Adam (Heather) Bauer

Ashley (Kyle) Rowe

Corie (Franklin) Raymundo

Andrea (Ryan) Smith

Curt Bauer (Ahsley Kranz)

Max Stursma

Hermina is also survived by her sister Darlene (Elmer) Kloosterman, brother Elvin Van Kooten, and sisters-in-law Mary Ann Van Kooten, Marlene Van Kooten, Thressa Nieuwsma and Jo Stursma.

Hermina was preceded in death by her husband Bill, son Alan Stursma, parents Pete and Jennie Van Kooten, sister Marie (Earl) De Boef, brothers: Cornelius Van Kooten, Henry (Sheryl) Van Kooten, Kenneth Van Kooten and sister-in-law Linda Van Kooten.

Memorials may be given to Cornerstone Church or Wesley Life Hospice - Pella.