Jil Veldhuizen
Jil Veldhuizen
Jil Veldhuizen
November 9, 1959 – June 29, 2017
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 57
Jil Veldhuizen, 57, of Oskaloosa, passed away Thursday, June 29, 2017, at her home in rural Oskaloosa. She was born November 9, 1959, in Oskaloosa, Iowa, the daughter of Carlos “Carlie” and Peggy Jean Shifflett Converse.
Jil graduated from Oskaloosa High School with the class of 1978. Following graduation, Jil worked for many years at Estal and Associates preparing tax returns. She later worked at Anderson and Larkin in Ottumwa and last for Lance Grotewold and Randy DeGeest’s Law offices in Oskaloosa. Jil was a farm wife and homemaker throughout all the years she worked in town.
On August 16, 1996, Jil was united in marriage to Dennis Veldhuizen at the Iowa State Fair Chapel in Des Moines.
Jil was a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and sister. She worked right alongside Dennis making sure that the farm ran as smooth as possible and helping any way she could. When the farm work was done for the day, she would head to the house and prepare supper and work through her calendar to make sure she was prepared for her next obligation.
Jil was a very active member of the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa, where she served as kitchen coordinator for Wednesday evening youth programs for over 15 years and volunteered at Vacation Bible School, and enjoyed the company of her ‘SIS’ Group. It was important to Jil that people had a relationship with the Lord, she was not shy about inviting people to church encouraging them to seek a relationship with God.
Jil enjoyed following sports, talking politics, listening to music, and going to shows at the Civic Center in Des Moines. Jil and Dennis enjoyed traveling together, they always looked forward to camping at the Iowa State Fair in August and trips to the Caribbean to shake off the chill of a long winter. She most enjoyed being with her family and friends at her ‘dream home’ that SHE and Dennis created.
She gave selflessly of her time, talents and resources to many organizations and individuals. She had a gift of finding those that she could help, and quietly contributing to make someone else’s life a little easier. Jil was the ‘go to’ person in her family and many organizations. Tasks ranging from running to town for a part for the farm, preparing her home and out of this world meals for holidays and special occasions, caring for her mother as her health declined, coaching swim team, helping with the Special Olympics, volunteering at the Danny Joe annual golf tournament, and coaching little league softball, she was happy to handle. It was important to Jil to help people make their lives better, not always easier, but pushing them to find the best in themselves.
Her family includes her husband of over 20 years, Dennis Veldhuizen of rural Oskaloosa; two daughters and their husbands: Brook (& Austin) Blackwell of Oskaloosa and Paige (& Joe) Pierson of Oskaloosa; five grandchildren: Banx and Bond Blackwell and Beau, Baine, and Piper Pierson; three step children: Mandy (& Curt) Johnston of Eddyville, Abby (& Scott) Canfield of Ankeny, and Dustin (& Megan) Veldhuizen of Oskaloosa; eight step grandchildren: Makenna, Chase, and Cole Johnston, Alison, Ashley and Quinn Canfield, and Holden and Madden Veldhuizen; a brother and his wife, Chuck (& Karen) Converse of Oskaloosa; a sister and her husband, Joi (& Roger) Stout of New Sharon; step mother-in-law, Darlene Veldhuizen; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Jil was preceded in death by her parents; a sister in infancy, Cynda Converse; her father-in-law Mel Veldhuizen and mother-in-law Eleanor Veldhuizen.
Funeral services will be held Friday, July 14, 2017 at 10:00 am in the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Tim Johnson officiating.
Burial will be in the St. Mary’s Cemetery within Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin after 12:00 noon on Thursday in the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa and the family will be at the church from 5 – 8 to greet friends and relatives.
Memorials may be made to the Jil Veldhuizen Memorial Fund with organizations that Jil held close to her heart as the benefactors.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Jil Veldhuizen please visit the Bates Funeral Chapel Sympathy Store.
