Ella Roelfina Kooiman was born on June 29, 1921 to Jake and Clara (Bolt) Van Essen near Edgerton, Minnesota.  She grew up on the farm and attended Edgerton Christian School through the eighth grade.  Ella was united in marriage on February 11, 1944 to John “Jack” Kooiman at First Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton.  Their union was blessed with five children and 54 years of marriage together.  The couple farmed near Edgerton before settling on the home place near Woodstock, Minnesota.  Ella was a devoted wife and mother, she loved caring for their home and helping Jack with the work on the farm.  Throughout her life, Ella was active in volunteer work and was always willing to give of herself and help others.  She will be remembered for her gracious hospitality by welcoming people to their home for food and fellowship.  Relatives will always remember her for her delicious home baked pies, rolls and bars.  She gave away many buckets of chocolate chip cookies and jars of homemade jelly.  She loved being a Grandma and will be remembered as a faithful woman who was dedicated to her family and Lord.  In 1989, they literally moved their house in Edgerton.  Jack died in 1998 and Ella continued to live in their home in Edgerton.  She became a resident of Edgebrook Care Center in 2005 and recently entered the Pipestone County Hospice House where she died Monday, January 19, 2015 at the age of 93 years.

Ella was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton all her life.  She served as librarian and attended Ladies Aid for many years.  She enjoyed crocheting, playing rook, scrabble, visiting with her friends, and especially time spent with her family.

Ella is lovingly remembered by her five children, Carol (and Rog) Vis of Hull, Iowa, Marilyn Whitehead of Fremont, Nebraska, John (and Karen Prins) of Orange City, Iowa, Jim (and Teresa Robbins) of Marshfield, Missouri, and Roxie (and Arv) Mulder of Edgerton, Minnesota; 13 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Clarence (Hennie), Henry (Dot) and Wesley (Jean) Van Essen; a sister Joyce (Marv) Bruxvoort, two sisters-in-law Jennie and Lena Vanden Bosch; one brother-in-law and a sister-in-law, Jake and Florence (Jake) Stoel.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack, brothers, Henry, Raymond and Nelvin, and one great-grandchild, Nathan Vis. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts for Ella’s favorite charities.