Jayleen Lynn Tjoelker
Jayleen Lynn Tjoelker, age 79, entered eternal glory in heaven on Friday, April 28, 2023. After a long journey with diabetes and dementia, she passed peacefully at home with family by her side.
Born in Lynden, WA on July 23, 1943 to parents Peter and Margaret Van Zee, she grew up on the farm with her three sisters, Twyla, Melva, and Lamona. After graduating from Lynden High School in 1961, she attended cosmetology school. On April 19, 1963 Jayleen married Robert (Bud) Tjoelker, and moved out to the Tjoelker farm in Blaine, where they spent their entire married life. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary this April. She was also a lifetime member of First Reformed Church.
Together they were blessed with four children: Ladd, Landiss, Lissa, and Lincoln. Besides raising a busy family, Jayleen spent 50 plus years as a beautician, doing hair in “Jay’s Beauty Spot” in her home. Clients became friends and many special relationships were formed over the years.
Jayleen embraced Bud’s love of horses and enjoyed trail riding, including both 25 and 50 mile rides. Later on, she fully supported Bud and the kids’ love of competition, attending horse shows and working in the arena all day. So many wonderful friends were made through the Nooksack Valley Riders and our greater “horse family” throughout Washington and Oregon.
Traveling together brought much enjoyment to Bud and Jay. This included motorhome trips to Arizona and a lifetime of camping at Silver Lake Horse Camp with family and friends.
Jay’s hands were always busy! From baking and crafting, to crocheting…there was always a project in the works and a crochet hook in her bag! She used her talents to support Ebenezer Christian School for numerous years. As a spunky grandma, she loved spoiling her fifteen grandchildren with treats, mostly ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. Attending both her kids’ and grandkids’ sporting events was a top priority.
Jayleen is remembered for her love of the Lord and her family, her hospitality and generosity, and her gift of making friends wherever she went. She is survived by her faithful husband Bud, son Ladd Tjoelker, daughters Landiss (Phil) Bratt and Lissa (Travis) Willemsen, and son Lincoln (Jada) Tjoelker; grandchildren Tyrel (Pam) Tjoelker, Lukas (fiancée Vanessa) Tjoelker, Carli (Jacob) Lauter, Livia Tjoelker; Kaden (fiancée Mandy), Kenadi, and Kylie Bratt; Emma, Thea, Greta, and Lyla Willemsen; Taryn, Taya and Trevyn Tjoelker. She also leaves behind sisters Twyla (Ed) Vander Haak, Melva (Duane) Bouma, Lamona (Darryl) Roosendaal; brother and sister in-laws Charles Tjoelker, Bill and Wilma DeLeeuw, Clarence and Barb Tjoelker; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, Jayleen is preceded in death by grandson Triston Tjoelker.
Viewing/Visitation will be held Thursday, May 4, 2023, 5-7 p.m. at Gillies Funeral Home, Lynden. The private family graveside service will be at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, May 5 at Monumenta Cemetery, followed by a 1:30 p.m. memorial service at First Reformed Church, Lynden.
For those wishing to honor Jayleen with a memorial gift, please consider Ebenezer Christian School Endowment Fund.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
