Jennie D. Bakker, 83 of Dike, Iowa, passed away on Friday, February 18, 2011 at the Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 21, 2011 at the Lincoln Center Christian Reformed Church in Grundy Center, Iowa with Pastor Dale Janssen officiating. Burial will follow the funeral service at Lincoln Township Cemetery, Grundy Center. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 20, 2011 at Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Dike.
Jennie D. Bakker was born on October 5, 1927 at the family home in Beaver Township in rural Grundy County to her parents George and Fannie (Behrends) Viet. She attended country school in Beaver Township. As a young woman, she worked as a housekeeper for the Fredericks family in Grundy Center. She was united in marriage to Louis C. Bakker on January 27, 1949, at the Pleasant Valley Reformed Church, where she was a member. She then joined Lincoln Center Christian Reformed Church after her marriage to Louis. They welcomed 8 children to their family and later they were happy to welcome many daughter-in-laws, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jennie and Louis spent many happy years together until Louis' death on January 1, 1990.
She was a very active member of the 4-H Club, Vacation Bible School and Ladies Sunshine Circle. She enjoyed sharing her love of hobbies, crafts and baking with her friends and family. She loved to go to all of her kids and grandkids activities.
She is survived by her children Mary Lou Bakker of Washington, D.C., Ron (Lori), Charles (Barbara), Jeffrey, Larry (LeAnn), Loren (Jacque), Curtis all of Dike and Michael (Michelle) of Ankeny; 14 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren and 6 step-great-grandchildren; brother George (Mabel) Viet of Grundy Center and sister Elisabeth Clapp of Dike; sisters-in-law Gladys Bakker of Grundy Center, Mary Viet of Hudson and Elaine Viet of Allison and a brother-in-law Rev. Paul (Marge) Bakker of Orange City, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Louis; sister Martha and brothers Ben, Herman and a brother in infancy.