Anthonia “Toni” Tjoelker, age 84, formerly of Lynden, passed away on Monday, Jan. 16, 2017 under hospice care in Renton, Washington, where she had moved to be closer to her children.
Toni was born Sept. 8, 1932 in Zevenhuizen, Holland, to Nicolaas and Cornelia (Vander Horst) Honcoop. She immigrated with her family to the United States in 1950 on the Queen Mary. Toni married John Tjoelker in Lynden on Oct. 16, 1953 and they celebrated over 60 years together raising a family in the Seattle area but returning to Lynden after John retired. Toni enjoyed taking care of her home and family, doing needlework, playing the organ, singing in the choir and going to the ocean.
She is survived by her sons Andrew (Cheri) and Ronald Tjoelker; daughters Nancy (Al) Jarvis, Lucinda (Russ) LaFayette and Dorothy Tropp; sisters Nellie Voskuilen, Marie (Hank) Tjoelker and Louisa (Ken) Haveman; grandchildren Jessica and Andrea Tjoelker, Benjamin and Michael (Melissa) LaFayette; step-grandchildren Troy and Kylee Yelland; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A public visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, in Gillies Funeral Home followed by an 11 a.m. funeral service also at Gillies and an 11:45 a.m. graveside committal in Monumenta Cemetery.
Donations in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association at donatenow.heart.org. You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
