Willemke Weaver
Willemke Weaver

Obituary of Willemke Weaver

Willemke "Wilma" Hoogeterp Weaver was born August 4, 1915, the first child of Hellebrand "Theo" and Jantje "Janet" (Schram) Hoogeterp at their home in Newkirk, Iowa. She was twelve when her mother passed away and she helped her father and sister until her father remarried. She was raised and educated in Newkirk, graduating from Newkirk High School in 1933. Following nurses training in Sioux City, Wilma moved to Royal, Iowa, where she worked in domestic housework. While in Royal, she met her future husband, Clyde Weaver. They were united in marriage at Trinity Lutheran Church on September 2, 1942 in Omaha, Nebraska. The couple farmed in Royal for three years before buying a farm in the Lake Park area. They later adopted a son, Allan. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hartley, Iowa. She loved home, church and music. She played both the piano and organ, and sang in the choir at both Royal and later at First Lutheran Church in Milford for several years. Wilma passed away Friday, June 12, 2009 at Hilltop Care Center in Spirit Lake at ninety-three years of age. Surviving are her husband, Clyde of rural Lake Park; adopted son, Allan of Yakima, Washington; special friends, Vance Hjelm of Lake Park and her children, Melanie Hjelm Bloom, her husband, Stephen, and their children of Marathon, Iowa, Laramie Hjelm of Ankeny, Iowa and Jens Hjelm of Lake Park; sister-in-law, Johanna Hoogeterp of Sheldon, Iowa; other relatives and friends. Preceding her in death are her parents, step-mother, Anna, half sister, Rev. Hattie Goldie Duncan, Bruce Hjelm, who was called second son, sister Jennie Buren and half brother Theo Hoogeterp.