Renee Yolanda Storteboom, age 51, was carried to her heavenly home in the early morning hours of Jan. 16, 2024. Born to Tim and Denise Storteboom on June 18, 1972 in Bellingham, she grew up on a poultry and berry farm with her four sisters in Lynden.
Graduating from Lynden Christian and Dordt College, she spent several years in Washington, D.C. and Africa working for organizations that assisted in the process of conflict resolution/peace, economic reform, and democratic development. Through her research and writing and in her role as program manager, she pursued her passion of caring for those less fortunate and underserved. After moving back to Lynden, she continued using her journalistic skills in writing, proofreading and editing.
Renee deeply valued her family and had a kind and compassionate heart. She was an avid reader and enjoyed knitting as many received gifts of her knitted projects. Renee loved dogs and during her daily walks, her pockets were always full of dog treats – she never met a dog she did not like.
Renee will be missed by her mother Denise Storteboom of Lynden and her four sisters, Desiree (Dennis) Kuik and their children Matt (Miranda) and Marissa; Ria (Mike) Elgersma and their children Nick (Brittany), Bryce and Derek (fiancé Ali); Yvonne (John III) Van Dalen and their children Lindsey (Stephen), Brooke (Ben), John IV (Lauren), and Tim; and Onita (Chad) Van Ginkel and their children Riley, Shannon, Jordyn, and Emery; great nieces/nephew, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Renee is preceded in death by her father, Tim Storteboom.
The family would like to thank Christian Health Care Center and Whatcom Hospice for their kindness, care, and comfort of Renee these past several months after her strokes.
A celebration of life service to be held at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Lynden at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024. To watch the live stream, go to either: https://www.youtube.com/@bethelcrclynden132/streams or https://www.facebook.com/bethelcrclynden.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Christian Health Care Center, 855 Aaron Drive, Lynden WA 98264 or Whatcom Hospice Foundation, Gift Processing Lockbox #1097, PO Box 35146, Seattle, WA 98124-5146.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
