Viola Jean Van Essen passed away peacefully in her home on Thursday, April 17, 2014, in Centennial, Colorado.  She was the daughter of Edward and Gertrude Schoolmeester and was born in Edgerton, Minnesota on March 17, 1930.  She was a homemaker and a Nurses Aid and had worked in Luverne, Minnesota and at the Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton.  She married Marvin Van Essen on August 14, 1949, and in 1972 they moved to Colorado; since she had always loved the mountains.  She loved traveling, baking, hiking, and anything to do with nature.  She was very active in her church and other volunteer services. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Marvin; her daughter, Donna; and her son, Myron.

Left to cherish her memory are four children, Eugene Van Essen, Loren (Denise) Van Essen, Anita (Ken) Harbert, and Karen Van Essen; 11 grandchildren; five great grandchildren; her brother, Virgil (Eleanor) Schoolmeester; and her sister Lavonne Wykstra.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to World Renew.