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1928 Joyce VanderPlaats 2023

Joyce VanderPlaats

May 2, 1928 — December 9, 2023

Milaca

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Joyce Terpstra VanderPlaats was born at home in Kanabec County on May 2, 1928 to Joe and Winnie Terpstra.  She grew up on a farm in Ogilvie and attended school there.  She first attended Ogilvie Christian Reformed Church and later a little country church known as Harrison Sunday School.  Joyce met Clarence VanderPlaats when she was a teenager, they dated for 11 months and were married October 23, 1945.  It was love at first sight.  They farmed in the Ogilvie area for approximately 14 years and then bought a gas station/garage in Pease.  They arrived in Pease with four children and later gave birth to their last child.  They attended Pease Christian Reformed Church where Joyce was active in Bible Studies, Bible School, Sunday School, Evangelism, and Prisoner Bible Study Ministry.

 

In Pease, Clarence and Joyce fostered 25 children over a 9-year period.  After that time, Joyce worked at the Pease Post Office, where she later became the post mistress.  They became Arizona snowbirds at retirement, enjoying golfing, swimming, playing cards, and traveling.

They lived in Pease for 38 years and moved to Milaca, where they lived for 19 years.  Clarence passed away November 7, 2007.  Joyce has been at Country Meadows until her death on December 9, 2023.

Joyce was preceded in death by her parents, Joe and Winnie Terpstra, three siblings, Lois, Jim, and Percy. She is survived by their five children, Joy (Gary) Grant, Carol (Jim) Rowan, Larry (Holly) VanderPlaats, Melanie (Stephanie Shaw) VanderPlaats, and Wendy Jacobson; 11 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren.

Nothing made Joyce happier than telling others about Jesus.  She is happy to be home with the Lord.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 11 AM at the Christian Reformed Church in Pease.  Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery near Ogilvie.  Visitation will be held from 4 – 7 PM Wednesday at Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home in Milaca and continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joyce VanderPlaats, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

4:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home

260 Central Ave S, Milaca, MN 56353

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Funeral Service

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Starts at 11:00 am (Central time)

Christian Reformed Church

117 W Main St, Pease, MN 56363

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