Eva Bronkema

  Longtime Sumas and Nooksack resident Eva Bronkema passed away on Monday, April 4, 2016, at St. Joseph PeaceHealth Medical Center in Bellingham at the age of 99.
  Eva was born in Arlington, Washington, on Dec 26, 1916, to Thomas and Johanna (Poulson) Montgomery. She married Carl “Ike” Bronkema and together they had three children. Eva worked as a homemaker and at the Sumas Mercantile for many years. Eva was a Christian and as a young mother made sure her three kids were in church every Sunday. She was a member of the Advent Christian Church in Sumas for many years. She faithfully cared for Ike when he was ill the last 10 years of his life. As a widow, Eva crocheted more than 50 afghans and love to work jigsaw puzzles and word games. She thrived on pinochle and the Seattle Mariners. She outlived many of her old friends, but it never took her long to make a new one. She will be deeply missed.
  Eva is survived by sons Joe (Bernita) Bronkema and Carl (Juanita) Bronkema, both of Sumas; daughter Karen Kovacs of Bellingham; and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
  She was preceded in death by husband Ike; her parents; four brothers; three sisters; and son-in-law Louis Kovacs.
  A time of visitation and viewing was on Monday, April 11, 2016, in Gillies Funeral Home in Lynden. A memorial service was on Tuesday, April 12, also in Gillies Funeral Home, followed by burial in Sumas Cemetery.
  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.