Rosemary Postma, 92, Sanborn
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A funeral service for Rosemary Postma was held Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2020, at the Christian Reformed Church in Sanborn. Rev. LeRoy Boender officiated.
Pallbearers were Doug Van Den Brink, David Van Den Brink, Ryan Reitsma, Jason Postma, Ryan Burns, Seth Liechti, Rick Rautenberg and Cody Farrow. Honorary pallbearers were Dawn Burns, Lisa Rautenberg, Laura Liechti, Cheryl Koele, Kaci Postma and Luke Verrips. Interment was in Roseland Cemetery at Sanborn. Sanborn Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.
Rosemary Postma was born Aug. 13, 1928 at Mobridge, S.D. The daughter of Henry and Alma J. (Nelson) Jilek Pekelder, she lived her youth in rural Glenham, S.D. before moving with her family to Sheldon.
On Feb. 22, 1949, Rosemary was united in marriage to Arie Postma, of Sanborn, at her parents’ home in Sheldon. The new couple began farming north of Sanborn, near Milford and south of Sanborn before opening the Bowl-Mor Lanes in 1956 in Sanborn. The business flourished and soon Arie added two more lanes to the original four. Being the great cook she was, Rose decided to bake her own pies and sell them at the bowling alley for 15 cents per piece. They were a hit! After an eight-year run, Arie and Rose sold the business in 1964. Rose continued working various jobs until her retirement.
Caring for four growing children and helping Arie at Bowl-Mor had kept Rose on a fairly tight schedule. When she could find some free time, she chose to spend it immersed in her passion, genealogy. Over the years, Rose had written countless letters and made many phone calls in search of information that would help her piece together the story of her family’s history. Her diligence and persistence resulted in four compete genealogy books, her gift for the generations yet to come.
Wanting to escape the cold and snow, Rose and Arie enjoyed several winters in the Arizona sun. Summers were spent at Okoboji, relaxing at Cutty’s or making memories for their grandkids with nothing more than a fishing pole and a tub of bait.
Rosemary lost her partner of 65 years when Arie died on May 5, 2014. She moved to Prairie View Nursing Home at Sanborn in November of 2015. While living there, she enjoyed the many activities Prairie View offered, especially crafts! Phone calls, cards and visits from her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids were always treasured times.
Rosemary passed from this life on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, at the age of 92 years, two months and 25 days.
Left to cherish her memory are her children: Mary Kelley and Jon Armstrong, of Shelton, Wash.; Rodney Postma, of Sheldon; Alvina and Larry Reitsma and Dennis and Joy Postma, all of Sanborn; nine grandchildren, 11 step-grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and six step-great-grandchildren.
Rose was preceded in death by her parents; one half-sister and one half-brother; daughter-in-law, Sue Postma; son-in-law, Reggie Kelley; grandson-in-law, Sgt. Shane Koele; and great-grandson, Jacob Van Den Brink.
