January 16 1934 October 12 2019
Geraldine Ruth (Coy) Ritsema, 85, of Kankakee, passed away peacefully at her home on Saturday, October 12, 2019 surrounded by family. Jerry was born on January 16, 1934 to Harvey and Lilas (Berger) Coy in Kankakee, IL. She spent her youth in Momence where she attended Momence High School and where she later married Nelson J. Ritsema on July 10, 1953, who preceded her in death. She and Nelson raised their four children in Kankakee. Jerry had an unwavering love for family, friends, Faith church (where she was a charter member), food, and fun, not always in that order. She loved music and was an accomplished singer. She enjoyed crafts, Yahtzee, beating Nelson at Rummy, Bunco, being “Aunt Jerry” to hundreds of kids at Vacation Bible School over the years, and her many, many friends. She never met a stranger she wouldn’t invite home and feed. We will miss her laugh and her warm heart. Jerry is survived by her four children; LuAnn (Edson Scudder) Ritsema of Charlotte, NC, Liala (George) Beukema of Chicago, IL, Jacqueline (Jerry) Kintz of Colorado Springs, CO and Richard (Erica Herkel) Ritsema of Kankakee, and seven grandchildren; Carrie Kintz, Tessa Beukema, Kalli Kintz (Larry Threlfall), Jesse Beukema (Monica Gilley), Isaac Kintz, Eve Ritsema and Blake Ritsema. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sisters, Beverly Balthazor and Burdell Marcotte, and her granddaughter, Carly Kintz. Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Church, 2400 Waldron Road, in Kankakee, IL. In keeping with Jerry’s wishes, she will be cremated and interred with her husband at the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Vacation Bible School fund at Faith Church in Kankakee, to Hospice of Kankakee Valley, or to the donor’s choice. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Geraline Ruth Ritsema please visit our Sympathy Store.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Geraline Ruth Ritsema January 16 1934 October 12 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Bourbonnais, state: Illinois