February 10, 1939 – October 16, 2023

Funeral services for Theresa Timklenberg, 84, of Pipestone, Minn., were held Wednesday, Oct. 25, 11:00 a.m. at the Pipestone Christian Reformed Church with Rev. Stephen Wynja officiating. Burial was in the Woodstock Cemetery.

Casket bearers were her grandchildren: Sheila Meyrah, Nathan Tinklenberg, Scott Tinklenberg, Keith Verkaik, Kimberly Lee, Hope Garrett, Sara Tinklenberg, and Alysha Humphrey.

Music was provided by organist Barb Gilmore; pianist Glenda Beukelman accompanying duet by Janice Zant and Peter Jouwstra My Jesus I Love Thee; duet by Roger and Glenda Beukelman, Now I Belong To Jesus, and congregational hymns, Count Your Blessings, Be Still, My Soul, and How Great Thou Art.

Theresa Joan Tinklenberg was born February 10, 1939, on the family farm near Rock Valley, Iowa, to Shirk and Lena (Stegenga) Jouwstra. She attended country school there until 1947 when the family moved to a farm near Tyler, Minn., where she attended the country school until the 6th grade. Theresa went to the public school in Tyler and graduated in 1956 from the high school in Tyler. She went on to attend Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa and completed an associate in arts degree on May 28, 1956. Theresa taught school for one year at the Edgerton Christian Elementary School in Edgerton, Minn. Theresa met Berton Tinklenberg and began their two-year courtship in 1957 and were married August 26, 1959 at the Christian Reformed Church in Tyler, Minnesota. Theresa taught for one year at the Lake Benton Public School. In the early years of marriage, the couple moved to Ontario, Calif., and then Montclair, Calif., in 1968 they returned to Woodstock, Minn. When the children were all in school Theresa started working as a cook for Edgebrook Care Center and then for New Life Treatment Center for 27 years. An acreage was purchased in 1971 on the Diamond Corner near Woodstock where they raised their four children, together they took care of family and worked/volunteered at various jobs in the community.

Theresa had a great love for Jesus and brought joy to those around her, she had the unique gift to make everyone she was around feel special. Music, faith, and family were central to Theresa’s life, she enjoyed singing, reading, taking walks, sewing clothes for the family, and cross stitch projects. She also enjoyed spending time in her vegetable and flower gardens. Theresa loved making the house smell awesome with home cooked meals and canning. She was resourceful with zucchini, rhubarb, apples, and recipe tweaks, spending time with her children as they grew up and later in life along with the grandkids and great-grandkids.

In August of 2010 Theresa and Berton moved to Pipestone, Minnesota. Berton preceded her in death on November 3, 2012. Theresa moved to the assisted living in Ridgeview in Pipestone in March 2019 and then to Edgebrook in February 2021. Theresa went with Jesus during her afternoon nap on October 16, 2023.

Theresa was an active member of the American Reformed Church in Woodstock and Pipestone Christian Reformed Church. She served the church playing the piano and organ for many years starting at the age of 12 years old in Tyler, singing in the choir, leading the choir, teaching Sunday School and Catechism classes and was a youth sponsor with her husband. She was active in Women’s Bible Studies and Pipestone Christian Women’s Club.

She is remembered as a faithful servant of the Lord and an inspiration not only to her children, but to countless others. She is lovingly remembered by her children, Donovan and his wife Karen Tink-lenberg of Woodstock, Minn., Bradley and his wife Bonnie Tinklenberg of Crystal, Minn., Dawn and her husband Thomas Verkaik of Redlands, Calif., Brian and his wife Leah Tinklenberg of Tucson, Ariz.; 8 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren; brothers, Frank and his wife Mina Jouwstra of Luverne, Minn., Peter and his wife Sharlene Jouwstra of Jenison, Mich., Jim and his wife Carole of Sun City, Calif.; sisters, Janice and her husband George Zant of Omaha, Nebr., Glenda and her husband Roger Beukelman of Charlotte, Tenn., and many nieces and nephews. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, Berton; parents; infant granddaughter, Heather Renee Verkaik; sister-in-law, Leila and her husband, Alfred Teeselink; sister-in-law Shirley Jouwstra; and brother-in-law Clarence Doornbos.