Adriana Hester Van Utrecht

Jane Van Utrecht, passed away Thursday evening at Northern Mahaska Nursing and Rehab Center in Oskaloosa at the age of 92 years, 3 months and 7 days. Adriana “Jane” Hester Van Utrecht, daughter of Arie and Neeltje Van Genderen MacLeane, was born, November 30, 1920, at her parent’s rural home near Hurwenen, the Netherlands. She attended school in Hurwenen and then helped on the family farm and in caring for her ailing mother. Her parents died during the last year of the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands and it was left to Jane and her brother Dick to maintain the farm. After the liberation in 1945, their former hired man, Goosen Van Utrecht returned from two years in a factory prison camp and came to help them on the farm. Times were difficult – but in the midst of hardship and heartache, love would blossom and Jane and Goosen married, July 14, 1948, in Rossum, Goosen’s hometown. Within four months, Goosen and Jane were on their way to America. The goodness of American/Dutch sponsors brought them to the Oskaloosa area. In 1960 they purchased a farm of their own near New Sharon, a place she lived until 2012. Jane assisted Goosen with the farm bookkeeping and also maintained a large vegetable garden. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, counted cross stitch and having her family and grandchildren near. Jane was a member of the Central Reformed Church and was active in the Ladies Aid. Her family includes her husband, Goosen of New Sharon; a daughter, Nellie (Dick) Drost of Oskaloosa; sons: Andrew (Lois) Van Utrecht of New Sharon, Phillip (Phyllis) Van Utrecht of Oskaloosa; and Steven (Vickie) Van Utrecht of New Sharon; thirteen grandchildren: Ben (Cori) Drost of Oskaloosa, Bert (Lisa) Drost of West Des Moines, Tim (Amanda) Drost of Oskaloosa, David (Angie) Van Utrecht of Bettendorf, John (Teresa) Van Utrecht of Ottumwa, Matthew (Jil) Van Utrecht of New Sharon, Sarah (Josh) Hawk of New Sharon, Katie (Bob) Olvera of Olathe, Kansas, Jennifer (Andrew) Groenenboom of Oskaloosa, Laura (Nick) Anderson of Oskaloosa, Mike (Julie) Van Utrecht of New Sharon, Melissa (Brandon) Bandstra of Lynnville and Brian (Whitnie) Van Utrecht of New Sharon; and 27 great grandchildren and four more soon to arrive. Besides her parents, Jane was preceded in death by her brother, Dick MacLeane Funeral Service for Jane will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, March 11, at Central Reformed Church with Reverend Don DeGlopper officiating. A family prayer service will precede the service at 9:45 a.m. in the west wing of the sanctuary. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., Sunday at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will be present form 4-6 p.m. Sunday afternoon. Memorial contributions may be made to Central Reformed Church. PDF Printable Version

Adriana Hester Van Utrecht

November 30, 1920 - March 7, 2013