Jessie Tina Adema

Obituary

Jessie Tina Adema died peacefully at her home on Wednesday, November 17, 2004. Born in Holland on February 29, 1920 to Peter and Tina Schotanus, she moved with her family to America when she was 18 months of age. Her family owned a farm in South Dakota until they relocated to Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1941. Jessie was preceded in death by her husband, Cornelius (Conny) Adema in 1984 and a sister, Nellie Karsies of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

While in Grand Rapids, Jessie was the volunteer dispatcher for the Grand Rapids Township Fire District for twelve years until she moved with Conny and her children to Fort Myers in 1960. In Fort Myers, Jessie worked with her husband to establish Adema Fire Equipment, where she worked until shortly after Conny's death. Jessie was a clerk with the Lee County Supervisor of Elections for 22 years, while establishing her own business, Adema Rental Enterprises, which she continued to manage until the time of her death.

Jessie was an avid sports fan who loved the Chicago Cubs (the Cubbies), football and especially auto racing. She was a fixture at Charlotte County Speedway, Collier County Speedway and DeSoto Memorial Speedway, where she watched her son, and later, three of her grandsons, race. Sitting in the highest possible seat, she was never happier than when one of them performed well. Just two weeks ago, she traveled to DeSoto Memorial Speedway to watch two of her grandsons compete in the same Winged Sprint Car race.

Jessie is survived by her son, Gerald (Denise) Adema, her daughter Susan (Tyrone) VanDevender; four grandsons, Duane, Stuart, and Bill VanDevender and Scott (Lauren) Adema; and three great-grandchildren, Bailey and Austin VanDevender, and Ryan Adema, all of Fort Myers. She is also survived by two sisters, Agnes (Bill) Brown, and Gladys (Ted) DeYoung, both of Grand Rapids, MI and a brother, John (Lauretta) Stanus of Fort Myers. She will be sorely missed by her family, her many friends, neighbors, and fellow racers.

A celebration of her life will be held on Saturday, December 4th, from 4 PM to 6 PM at Rene's Restaurant at 12731 McGregor Blvd. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Jessie's name to either the Lee County Humane Society or The Victory Junction Gang Camp at 4500 Adam's Way, Randleman, NC 27317.