Jeanette Droogsma

1927 - 2026

Jeanette "Jean" (Van Dyke) Droogsma, age 99 of Milaca, went to her eternal home on Friday, March 6, 2026 at Elim Care Center in Milaca, MN.

Her funeral will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Pease Christian Reformed Church in Pease, MN. Visitation will begin at 10 with the service held at 11 a.m. Burial will be held at Pease Cemetery.

Jean was born on January 10, 1927 in Paterson, NJ to Jacob and Trina (Douma) Van Dyke. She was baptized into the Christian faith in Paterson and attended the Christian Reformed Church School from grade school to 1 1/2 years of high school.

Jean had many fond memories of her childhood, growing up in Paterson, NJ. The family's carport was the place where puzzles were done and friends hung out. She fondly recalled finishing the 'Gettysburg' puzzle and ran in to tell her mom to come out and see it, but it had been destroyed already because "the cannons went off." There were also memories of raking leaves and bonfires with baking potatoes and stopping traffic in the winter as the neighborhood children slid down the big hill near her home. An early job was pressing cuffs and collars. She fondly remembers seeing the Rockettes in person and not so fondly leaving indoor plumbing when she moved to Minnesota.

Jean married Sidney Droogsma on February 21, 1947 at Pease Christian Reformed Church. They celebrated 66 years of married life together before Sid went to his eternal home. They had nine children together. They lived in Milaca, MN. Jean enjoyed gardening, DAC, Ladies Aid, traveling, making rugs, knitting, crocheting, jigsaw puzzles, plants, reading, and fishing with cane poles. Jean's faith was very important to her and she shared that faith and witness with her many letters and correspondence through the years. Recently Jean was able to meet and was part of a five generation photo shoot with Grayson.

Jean was preceded in death by parents Jacob and Trina Van Dyke, sister Alberdina (Van Dyke) Price, husband Sidney Droogsma, son Ronald and wife Colleen, son Gerald "Jerry" Droogsma, granddaughter Cheri Holmes, brother and sisters in-laws: Agnes and Herman Imm, Herman and Edith Koppendrayer, Wayne and Florence Van De Riet, Ernie and Joan Droogsma, Dena and Vernon Peterson, Hank "Jr." Droogsma.

Jean is survived by her children: Harlan (Janet) of Anoka, David (Monica) of Brooklyn Center, Carol Torkelson of Columbia Heights, Donna (Tim) Holmes of Hinckley, Calvin of Rockford, Shirley (Tom) Giroux of Monticello, Richard (Ruth) of Brooklyn Park; 15 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; brother-in-law Ray (Lillian) Droogsma of Milaca and sister-in-law Carolyn Droogsma of Florida.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Pease Christian Reformed Church or Country Meadows in Milaca.