Obituary of Shirley Jean Postma

    Shirley Jean Postma, the daughter of Ralph and Bertha (Vander Pol) Erkes, was born March 13, 1939 near Sheldon, Iowa.  Shirley and her three sisters, Arlene, Norma and Ruby, were raised on their family farm outside of Sheldon. Shirley often reminisced and shared stories of playing with her sisters and all of the animals on the farm. There, she attended country school, and continued on to graduate from Sheldon High School in 1957.  After graduation, Shirley was employed by a local bank in Sheldon, and then as a bookkeeper for Coop Oil Company of Sheldon.
    On August 5, 1972, she was united in marriage to Leonard James Postma at the Little Brown Church at Nashua, Iowa. They settled in Sanborn, Iowa and began to raise their family. Through this union came five children: James, Barbara, Keith, Karen and Leon. Shirley was later employed with Prairie View Nursing Home in Sanborn, Iowa. There, she worked in various capacities for over 20 years, including housekeeping and laundry supervisory positions. 
    Shirley always treasured spending time with her family. She also enjoyed her hobbies of embroidery and cross stitch, as well as collecting Precious Moments figurines. She and Leonard both enjoyed traveling, camping and spending time at their lake house in Arnolds Park, Iowa.  Shirley had a special place in her heart for her dogs; particularly, her Jack Russell, Homer James. Shirley and Homer spent a lot of time walking in the neighborhood, playing ball around the house and visiting residents at Prairie View Nursing Home. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Sanborn and the Women’s Auxiliary.
    Shirley is survived by her children: James (Heidi) Postma of Sanborn, Iowa, Barbara Van Otterloo of Worthington, Minnesota, and Leon (Keri) Postma of Fort Collins, Colorado; three grandchildren: Brandon and Nicholas Postma, and Jennifer Van Otterloo; three great-grandchildren: Dylan, Madison and Bella Postma; one sister, Ruby Storm of Sheldon, Iowa, one sister-in-law, Jamie Postma of Sanborn, Iowa; other relatives and friends.
    Preceding her in death were her husband, Leonard Postma; parents, Ralph and Bertha Erkes; sisters: Arlene Lode and Norma Vanden Hull; children: Keith and Karen Postma; one grandchild, Jason Van Otterloo, brothers-in-law: Dick Lode, Arnold Vanden Hull, Earl Storm, Robert Postma and Howard Postma; sisters-in-law: Dorothy Dykstra and Doris Postma.

Celebration of Life

Shirley Jean Postma

Born ~ March 13, 1939
Died ~ October 4, 2017
Age ~ 78 years    6 months    21 days

 
FUNERAL SERVICE
Saturday, October 7, 2017
10:30 a.m.
First Presbyterian Church
Sanborn, Iowa

Clergy ~ Rev. Gregg Johnson
Organist ~ Gayle Vander Woude

Special Music
"I Can See Clearly Now"

Congregational Singing

Processional ~ "Amazing Grace"
                          "Church In The Wildwood"
                        "Jesus Loves Me"
Recessional ~ "The Old Rugged Cross"
   
Pallbearers
Leon Postma    Keri Postma    Jim Postma    Heidi Postma
Barb Van Otterloo    Jennifer Van Otterloo
Brandon Postma    Nicholas Postma
   
Ushers
Curt Vanden Hull ~ Bill Postma
   
Interment
Roseland Cemetery