Obituary of Priscilla Wagenaar

Priscilla Matilda Wagenaar, age 85, passed away peacefully at St. Joseph's Hospital in Bellingham, WA, on Tuesday morning, February 4, 2014, after a brief illness. Priscilla was the fifth of nine children born to Charles and Jessie (Boer) Bootsma. Until the last year and a half, Priscilla lived her entire life in northwest Iowa. She was born in a farmhouse near Sanborn, IA, attended Archer Community School for two years and then Sanborn Christian Elementary School, where she graduated from eighth grade. She developed excellent embroidery skills and loved this pastime. After graduation she assisted on the family farm until she secured a job at the Sheldon Bakery where she worked for a few years. Priscilla married Wilfred "Bill" Wagenaar on May 10, 1951, and they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2011 shortly before her husband passed away. Bill and Priscilla raised eight children together: Paul of Ferndale, WA; JoAnna of Lynden, WA; Glenice, Sharon (Dennis Bomgaars), Mark (LuAnn) of Lynden, WA; Donna (Phil Spoelstra) of Lynden, WA; John (Lynae) of Alton, IA; and Dean (Glenda) of Sunnyside, WA. Bill and Priscilla operated a farm northeast of Sheldon for the first 30 years of their marriage. Raising their eight children was the focus of Priscilla’s life. One of her favorite activities was canning and preserving vegetables and fruits for her family. In the early 1980’s, Bill and Priscilla moved to an acreage, and soon after, Priscilla returned to "school" to become a Certified Nursing Assistant. She earned the certification and was hired by Prairie View Retirement/Nursing Home at Sanborn where she faithfully served for the next 20-plus years. Priscilla loved her work with both co-workers and the elderly at Prairie View and developed some wonderful friendships over the years of her employment. In retirement, she enjoyed volunteering at the Treasure Chest in Sheldon. A special joy was baking sweet breads to deliver to family and friends. Throughout her life, she gave selflessly to her beloved children and grandchildren. Priscilla was a faithful member of the Sheldon First Christian Reformed Church. This commitment stemmed from her belief that “she was not her own, but belonged body and soul to her faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.” Priscilla was preceded in death by five brothers: Harry, Peter, Percy, Ralph and Calvin Bootsma; six sisters-in-law: Jenny Wagenaar, Jennie (Van Huevelen) Wagenaar, Johanna Wagenaar, Agnes Vander Griend, Myrtle Bootsma and Evelyn Bootsma; two brothers-in-law: Mike Wagenaar and Theron Tien; two daughters: Glenice and Sharon (Bomgaars); and one son-in-law, Dennis Bomgaars. She is survived by four sons; two daughters; 20 grandchildren; five step-grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren; two brothers: Ted and Garrold Bootsma; one sister, Thelma Tien; two brothers-in-law: Jake and Sid Wagenaar; three sisters-in-law: Mabel Wagenaar, Wilma Bootsma, Johanna Bootsma; and a daughter-in-law, Linda Goff. 3 As a committed wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she is greatly missed and will be dearly remembered for the lives she so wonderfully impacted. As a family, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of you who have blessed us with your thoughts, prayers, and encouragement. God’s love and grace displayed through each of you has held us during this time of loss.