Mildred “Millie” Visser
Mildred “Millie” Visser
Mildred “Millie” Visser
January 10, 1933 – October 16, 2015
West Lafayette, IN (Oskaloosa, IA) | Age 82
Mildred “Millie” Visser, 82 of West Lafayette, IN and formerly of Oskaloosa, passed away Friday, October 16, 2015 at Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital.
Mildred Arlene Visser, daughter of Wilfred James and Anna Jacoba Wilhelmina (Cornelissen) Klaaren, was born January 10, 1933 at the home of her parents in Mahaska County, Iowa.
Mil attended Coal field School in Monroe County as a youngster and then went to high school in Eddyville, where she graduated in 1951. Later that year, she married Gilbert Leroy Visser, October 12, 1951, at the Eddyville Reformed Church. The coupled resided in Pella until Gilbert finished his studies at Central College. Gilbert attended Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI. He and Mil lived in the nearby community of Conklin, where Gil also served as pastor to the Conklin Reformed Church.
Over the years, Gil has served in Platte, SD, Yankton, SD, Worthington, MN, Lincoln, NE, Dallas, TX and Peoria, IL, before retiring to Oskaloosa where he served as interim pastor and visiting pastor for many years. Mil was flexible and supportive to Gil through all these moves and changes. She taught many Sunday school and VBS classes and was involved in the Ladies’ Aid and mission projects, in addition to raising three children and helping them adapt to new communities and schools.
Gil and Mil naturally came by the gift of hospitality. While in Platte, SD, they hosted many hunters from around the world who came to the area for pheasant season. Moving two children with chickenpox to Yankton, SD during the middle of winter in 1966 proved a challenge for Mil but she was becoming an expert at moving by that time. While in Lincoln, NE, Mil worked for Bankers Life Insurance in the data processing department.
It was in Dallas, TX, while Gil was serving as an interim pastor, that the couple took up pottery. Mildred specialized in hand-built items while Gil was the expert on the pottery wheel. Mil often embellished Gilbert’s items with her unique touches. It was during their final pastoral home in Peoria, IL that they began selling their pottery under the name, G & M Pottery.
With their move to Oskaloosa in 1991, they were able to practice once again their gift of hospitality. They purchased the Frederick Logan House where they operated the Logan House Bed and Breakfast for several years; during this time they also changed the name of their craft business to Logan House Pottery. In 2012, Mil and Gil moved to West Lafayette, IN to be closer to their children.
Mil’s family includes her husband, Gil of West Lafayette; her children: Joyce Eileen Spurr of Delphi, IN, Brent (& Renae) Ranier Visser of Andover, MN, and Steven (& Sari) Carl Visser of West Lafayette, IN. She was blessed with seven grandchildren: Christopher Spurr of Ruidoso, NM, Lisa (& Jamie) Ingram-Spurr of Alamogordo, NM, Kristy Visser (& Daniel Kisrow) of Woodbridge, VA, Nicole’ (& Justin) Densborn of Logansport, IN, Nadia (& Kyle) Sigo of Cincinnati, OH, Kelsey Visser of St. Anthony, IN, and Alexander Visser of Lafayette, IN; five great-grandchildren: Isaac Spurr, Elliot and Benjamin Kisrow, and Lila and Ellie Densborn; a brother, Ernest Klaaren of Oskaloosa; and two sisters: Evelyn (& Byron) Englenhoven of Oskaloosa and Marilyn Jones of Greenville, TX.
In addition to her parents, Mil was preceded in death by infant twin daughters; an infant son; a sister and brother-in-law, Martha and Harold Nieuwsma; and a sister-in-law, Betty Klaaren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, October 24, 2015, at Central Reformed Church with Pastor Jon Nelson officiating.
A family prayer service will be held in the lower level of the church at 1:45 p.m. prior to the service.
Burial will be in Forest Cemetery.
Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., Friday at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will be present from 5-7 p.m. to greet visitors.
Memorials can be made to the donor’s favorite charity in memory of Millie.
