Nell Voskuil, age 91 of Baldwin, passed away August 26, 2014 at the Baldwin Care Center. Nell was born in May of 1923 to Benjamin and Nell Grotenhuis of Baldwin, WI. Shortly after her birth, Nell’s mother died. Because her father already had five children to care for, Nell was taken in by her uncle and aunt, Lambert and Christina Bakker where she was treated as a daughter and took their name. She attended Three Willow elementary school and graduated from Baldwin High School.
Upon her graduation, Nellie went to work at Heebink’s store until a handsome young navy engineer, named Willard Voskuil returned from WWII and they were married on June 7, 1946. They bought a farm north of Baldwin where they worked together for 51 years and raised four children. For some years Nell also worked as a nurses’ aide at the Baldwin Nursing Home.
Nell was famous for her large garden and always said that despite the hard work of summer, especially feeding harvesters and helping with hay, it was her favorite season because she could be in the garden early and late.
Nell and Willard sold the cows in 1980, which gave them the free time to travel in the US and to the Middle East, Europe, the Holy Land, and Africa.
Nell was active in North Happy Valley Homemakers, Friendly Class, and Circle and in the activities of Gideon’s International, often preparing services for the jail in Hudson.
Nell was a life-long member of the First Reformed Church of Baldwin and was devoted to daily Bible Study and prayer. Going before her to heaven were two infant sons, son Kent at age 36 and her husband, Willard. She will be lovingly remembered by Doris Bakker, her children Ann and Tom Staal of Rockville, MD; Mary and Daniel Boote of Deerfield, IL; and Alan and Paula Voskuil of Green Bay, WI and by grandchildren Daniel and Nora Staal and Sean Ruboya, Matthew (and Ellie), Luke (Martha Precup), and Lydia Boote, and Kim (Randy Propson), Caryn, and Susan Voskuil.
Funeral services for Nell Voskuil will take place 11:00 a.m. Saturday, August 30, 2014 at First Reformed Church, 1120 Eleventh Ave., Baldwin. A visitation will take place 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, August, 29 at the O’Connell Family Funeral Home, 1010 Newton St., Baldwin, and one hour prior to the service on Saturday at church. Nell’s interment will take place at the Baldwin Cemetery. Nell’s grandchildren will have the honor as pallbearers. Memorials are preferred to First Reformed Church and the Baldwin Care Center.