Pauline Spaans

Pauline (Staal) Spaans was born July 24, 1928 to Adrian and Edna (VanderWaal) Staal in Grand Rapids MI. She passed away on Friday, October 24, 2025 at Bethel Lutheran Home in Madison, SD at the age of 97. Funeral service will be Tuesday, November 4 at 10:00 am at Netherlands Reformed Church in Corsica. Visitation will be Monday, November 3 from 5 to 7 pm, with a 7:00 pm prayer service, at Netherlands Reformed School Gym in Corsica. Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Armour. She grew up in Grand Rapids, MI and graduated from Central High School in 1945. On February 14, 1950, she married Cornelius "Cornie" Spaans. The couple first made their home in Harrison, South Dakota, where they farmed until 1952 before returning to Grand Rapids. In 1958, they moved back to Corsica, South Dakota, where they established Spaans Brothers Trucking. After retirement, Pauline and Cornie enjoyed spending their winters in Mission, Texas. In 1956, Pauline contracted polio and was hospitalized for six months. Despite the challenges she faced, she remained active, handling bookkeeping and dispatching for the family trucking business. She loved playing board games, playing the organ and reading. After retirement, she bought her first computer and taught herself how to use it. One of her proudest accomplishments was compiling the Zomer family genealogy book after many years of dedicated research. They loved to travel, including two memorable trips to the Netherlands. Pauline especially cherished visits from her family and friends. Known for her strength and grace, she rarely complained and lived her life with quiet faith and determination. Pauline is survived by her six children: Rich (Jan) Spaans, Connie Wolbrink of Sioux Falls, Jim (Renee) Spaans of Mitchell, Arleen Weerheim of Madison, Nancy (Vern) Hill of Plankinton, and Paul (Dawn) Spaans of Carver, MN; 21 grandchildren; and 34 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a special family friend, Christy Hollebrandse of the Netherlands; her siblings Dena (Milo) Dewald, Marty (Connie) Staal, Al (Mary) Staal, and Hugo Staal, all of Michigan; and in-laws Joanne Spaans, Elizabeth (Betty) Spaans, Cathy Spaans of Michigan, Betty Spaans of Corsica, and Rosalie Spaans of Sioux Falls. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Cornie; her sons-in-law Gary Wolbrink and Dale Weerheim; siblings William (Marie) Staal, Anna (Bas)Blok, Casey (Ginny) Staal, and Thelma Staal; and brother-in-laws and sisters-in-laws: Nellie (Pete) Bouma, Herman (Clazina) Spaans, John Spaans, Henry (Martina) Spaans, Albert (Hermina) Spaans, Dick (Mick) Spaans, Jim Spaans, Adrian Spaans, Leonard (Elizabeth) Spaans, Marvin Spaans, Andy (Doris) Spaans, and Ben Spaans. Memorials would be preferred in lieu of flowers to be directed to Netherlands Reformed Congregation or Netherlands Reformed School.