Services for Jennie Schouwenberg will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, May 26, at Steen Reformed Church with burial to follow in Eastside Cemetery at Steen. The Rev. Dan Ramaker will officiate.Jennie Schouwenberg, 83, Steen, died Monday morning at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.Jennie Kracht was born to Peter and Grace (Flier) Kracht on May 8, 1922, on a farm near Rock Rapids, Iowa. She grew up on the family farm and attended country school. When she was 16 years old her mother died and she took over the responsibility of raising her younger siblings along with caring for the household and working in the fields.She married Bert Schouwenberg on Dec. 15, 1944, at the parsonage of Steen Reformed Church. Following their marriage the couple farmed west of Rock Rapids. Later they moved to a farm south of Steen where they farmed until retiring to Steen in 1979. Mr. Schouwenberg died on Nov. 27, 1997. Following his death she remained in Steen. She became sick on Sunday and was taken to Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital in Rock Rapids before transferred to Sioux Valley Hospital.Mrs. Schouwenberg was an active member of Steen Reformed Church where she served as a teacher of Sunday School, catechism and Bible School. She and her husband were custodians of the church for 25 years. She liked gardening and helping on the farm. Survivors include one daughter, Rozella Mae (Virgil) Vahl, Steen; two grandsons, Jonathon Vahl, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Eric Vahl, Steen; three brothers, Ben Kracht, Larchwood, Iowa, John Kracht, Hills, Bud (Theo) Kracht, Beaver Creek; and one sister, Alice (Bernard) Cosgrove, O’Fallon, Mo. Mrs. Schouwenberg was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Bert, one brother, Bert Kracht, one sister, Hattie Top, and two sisters-in-law, Margaret Kracht and Anna Mae Kracht.Roste Funeral Home, Hills, is in charge of arrangements.
