Joana Cornelia Pietersma
Joana Cornelia Pietersma, age 93 of Goodyear, died on Sept. 24, in Litchfield. She was born Aug. 6, 1926, in Medan, Indonesia to Cornelis Johan and Jacomine (Jentink) Derksen. As a Dutch citizen, Joana and her family were imprisoned in Japanese concentration camps in Indonesia during World War II. Though just a teenager, Joana survived the starvation, overcrowding, disease, and brutality that existed in the camps. Once the camps were liberated, the family was reunited and decided to return to Holland. It was while traveling on the liberation train, the final leg of their journey, that Joana met her first husband, Jan Willem Outman. After they married, the couple returned to Indonesia where they owned a bakery and an ice cream shop. The family emigrated to the U.S. in 1958 and settled in California.
Joana worked in a variety of jobs. As a young woman, she worked for six months as a nanny in France. Later she worked for Hewlett Packard and then as a realtor. She was employed as a bank teller for much of her life. She enjoyed flower arranging, crocheting, drawing, and often created her own greeting cards. An excellent cook, Joana loved to make an Indonesian rice table for her family and friends. She loved to dance and enjoyed going to the Dutch Club. It was at the Dutch Club that she met her second husband, Jan Pietersma.
Gracious and thoughtful, Joana loved people regardless of their age. She had the rare ability to see the good in people and was a second mother to many of her children’s friends. She was always happy to see you and remembered all of her friends and family, even when dementia took over. She was a super mom and loved to get down on the floor to play with her grandchildren.
Toward the end of her remarkable life, Joana shared this wisdom with her daughter, Irene. “Life is hard. You have to make it work,” and “Be nice to others; they will be nice to you.”
Joana is survived by her daughters, Henriette White and Irene Phillips; sons, Stanley Outman and Gerrit Pietersma; ten grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her two husbands, Jan Willem Outman and Jan Pietersma; son, Remi Pietersma; and grandson, Daniel Pietersma.
A memorial service was held on Oct. 6, at Thompson Funeral Chapel. Condolences for the family may be left at www.ThompsonFuneralChapel.com.
Robert “Bob” William Yordy
Robert “Bob” William Yordy of Goodyear, passed away on Aug. 30, due to complications from a fall while visiting family in California. He was 79 years old.
Bob was born on Oct. 24, 1939, at Fort Hamilton hospital in Hamilton, OH. The only child born to William and Helen Louise Yordy, he was raised in the college town of Oxford, OH and was surrounded by many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He attended McGuffey School and was in the first graduating class at Talawanda High School.
Even at a young age, Bob was passionate about helping others and being involved in the community. As a boy, he spent many hours at the fire station and riding along with the police officers in Oxford. These experiences provided the foundation for his 25-year career with the City of Dayton Police Department—10 years as a policeman and 15 years as a detective with the accident investigation unit.
Bob married Donna Wright in 1960, and they settled in New Lebanon, OH, where they had a son and daughter. He volunteered on the New Lebanon Fire Department for 15 years and was elected to two terms as the president of the board of education. He enjoyed setting off the town fireworks every summer and organizing carnivals and community barbecues.
Typical of families with careers in public service, Bob worked more than one job to provide for his family. For six years, after he ended his working day as a police officer, he did the air traffic reports for WHIO radio in Dayton.
During his young adult life, Bob came to know Christ more deeply and committed the rest of his life serving the Lord. As a member of the Brethren Church for 25 years, he taught an adult Sunday school class for 15 years, sang in the choir, was the chair of the deacon board for eight years, and served on the National Missionary Board for nine years. He was fondly known for renting a bus and planning the annual Sunday school class trips.
Bob retired from the Dayton Police Department after 25 years then joined business partner Larry Dehus in their research firm, Law Science Technologies in West Milton, OH. For nearly 11 years, Bob traveled to many places, reconstructing traffic accidents for 48 insurance companies, many law firms, and the attorney generals of seven states.
In early 1996, Bob and Donna moved and retired to Fountain Hills, AZ, just in time for the arrival of their daughter’s twin boys. He quickly became active in his grandsons’ lives and the community of Fountain Hills. Bob served as the president of the Civic Association, vice president of Kiwanis, and was on the Fountain Hills Strategic Planning Commission. He was an elder in the Presbyterian Church and sang in the choir.
In 2005, Bob and Donna divorced, and he moved to Goodyear. He married Cathy Harder and joined the Christ Presbyterian Church. Bob served on the finance and personnel committees and for two years was the chair of the stewardship campaign. He taught the Sojourners Sunday School class for more than five years, served as an elder for four years, and chaired the new construction committee, the strategic planning committee, and the new building of the memorial garden.
Bob loved his family, friends, and country dearly. He enjoyed playing golf, traveling, and listening to choirs sing and the sound of big bands playing. If you met Bob, you could listen to him tell stories of old times over and over again. He was always ready and willing to lend a hand and was the truest of friends. He was a loving and caring son, husband, father, and grandfather.
Bob was preceded in death by his mother (Helen Louise Yordy) and father (William Yordy). He is survived by his wife (Cathy), son (Jeff), daughter and son-in-law (Karen and Tim Riordan), grandsons (Austin and Trevor Grimm), and first cousin (Barbara Clawson) of Oxford, OH.
A celebration of life service was held on October 19, at the Eagle’s Nest Ballroom of PebbleCreek in Goodyear.
Karen Alice Reynolds
Karen “Alice” Reynolds, age 97, passed away peacefully on Sept. 13, at The Groves in Goodyear. Alice was born in Montpelier, ID on April 10, 1922, to Andrew and Corrinne Larsen. At an early age, her family moved to Emmett, ID. Alice graduated from Emmett High School where she met the love of her life, Guy E. Reynolds, Jr. She and Guy married on Nov. 3, 1941, and they raised four children in Caldwell, ID.
Alice was an avid golfer and served as president of the Caldwell Ladies Golf Association. As president, Alice played the first official round of golf on the Purple Sage Golf Course in 1963. Upon moving to Oregon, Alice donated time to the Oregon Golf Association and was awarded Volunteer of the Year in 1997. She was an active member of the Corvallis Country Club Ladies’ Golf Association and volunteered for many years at the Oregon State University Thrift Shop.
In later years, Alice played bridge at a high level. She spent many hours at PebbleCreek playing bridge with the Wednesday Couples and the Thursday Morning Ladies. She worked sudoku puzzles every morning and was an avid reader until 2018. Alice will be remembered for her sweet disposition and competitive spirit.
Alice was preceded in death by Guy in 1995. Alice leaves four children: Linda Weider, Marilyn Reynolds (Lyman Gallup), Karen Moore (Chip Cracraft) and John Reynolds (Diana Coomes). Alice also leaves five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to The First Tee of Idaho at 172 S. Academy Ave., Suite 160; Eagle, ID 83616.