April 28, 1936 – March 17, 2024 Wilma Gertrude Kruisselbrink Van Peursem went to be with our Lord and Savior after a battle with Alzheimer’s, on March 17, 2024. A memorial service was held at Woodstock Community Church on April 16 at 11:00 a.m. with burial at Woodstock Cemetery. Wilma was born on April 28, 1936, in Sanborn, Iowa, to Henry and Annetta Solsma Kruisselbrink. She attended the Christian School in Sanborn through 3rd grade, then she moved with her family to their farm near Woodstock, Minn., in 1943. Wilma completed her high school education in Pipestone, Minn., in 1954. While in high school, she worked part time as a telephone operator in Woodstock and the last two years of high school she participated in the “on the job training’ program, working 1/2 days at the Pipestone Grain Elevator. After completing high school, she was hired by the Pipestone Grain Elevator where she worked full time for 4 more years. On July 25, 1958, Wilma married Gerald Van Peursem at the American Reformed Church in Woodstock, where they were both members. They moved to Bird Island, Minn., where Gerald was an Industrial Technology teacher and Wilma worked in the Bird Island State Bank until the addition to the family. She was a homemaker “par-excellence,” taking care of their two children, Cheryl born May 5, 1959, and Nancy born October 18, 1960, both born in Olivia, Minn., Janelle came later. Wilma was very involved in church activities and sang in the church choirs in all the communities where they lived. Wilma also learned to play Bridge and became an accomplished player – playing in the next two communities where she lived. In the summer of 1962 Wilma and the family moved to Madison, Minn., where she continued as a homemaker and to enjoy the activities of the community. In the summer of 1966, Wilma and the family moved to Cottage Grove where Gerald taught Industrial Technology. In Cottage Grove she worked part time in the jewelry store owned by her daughter, Cheryl and son-in-law Dave Ritter. Wilma also taught Sunday School and served as assistant treasurer at Hope Christian Missionary Church where on November 24, 1973, she was blessed with another daughter, Janelle (meaning “God’s gracious gift” and they all were) born in Mounds Park Memorial Hospital. In 1992 Gerald retired from teaching and that caused the need for an adjustment at home. In the summer of 2003, Wilma and Gerald moved to their home on North Star Lake, near Marcell, Minn. She was a member of the Marcell Community Church and enjoyed being active in the church activities. She loved watching the family enjoying the activities of the lake, but not too much at being in the water herself. Wilma will be remembered as a loving and caring lady by her survivors: her husband of 65 years, Gerald Van Peursem; children: Cheryl (Dave) Ritter, Marcell, Nancy (Jerry) Rankin, Woodbury, Minn., and Janelle (Tim) Erickson, Cottage Grove; sister Evelyn Van Nieuwenhuyzen, Pipestone, Minn.; brother-in-law: Stanley (Linda) Van Peursem, Surprise, Ariz., sister-in-law Mavis Kruisselbrink, Chandler, Minn., and brother-in-law Clarence Taylor, Pipestone. 70 grandchildren; 78 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Annetta Kruisselbrink; two sisters: Magdalene Kruisselbrink and Harriet Schmidt; four brothers: Jake and his wife, Betty, Howard and his first wife, Wilma, Willys and his wife Aleanor, and Elmer Kruisselbrink; and two brothers-inlaw: Peter Van Nieuwenhuyzen and Henry Schmidt.