Sheryl Renee Tolsma
Sheryl Renee Tolsma, age 65, was called home by her Heavenly Father on Monday, April 3, after suffering several years with chronic illness. She loved her family, farming, grandkids, and caregiving.
Sheryl was born on Nov. 10, 1957, in Bellingham to parents Wilbur and Gertrude (Vander Meulen) Stuit. They lived together in Lynden, then moved to the farm in Everson. She spent lots of time with visiting grandparents, as a child, bringing laughter and joy.
This may explain her joy and compassion for her grandchildren. She was her dad’s helper on the farm, and did everything from moving irrigation pipes to feeding animals.
After graduating high school, Sheryl took extensive training in nursing and was an experienced caregiver.
Sheryl married the love of her life, Frank Tolsma on Dec. 9, 1977 in Lynden. They began their family on the Willeys Lake Road farm spending a little over two years there, before moving to their North Prairie Dairy on Depot Road for the next 22 years.
The last 21 years they retired to their current home on Pole Road. Together they raised six lively children on the farm, teaching a strong work ethic and a love for farming and family.
Sheryl spent most of her days working hard on the farm, filling silo, milking cows, chopping corn, cleaning in the barns, and then running a household of eight.
You may also have seen Sheryl working at True Value in Lynden, and the Christian Healthcare Center. Mostly she was a devoted wife and mother, deeply passionate about loving her family. Mom was known for pushing us to work hard, motivated by an afternoon at the lake, Birch Bay, or the waterslides. She worked hard and played hard.
Sheryl was an avid Christian, and loved Jesus Christ her Lord and Savior with all her heart.
Mom had a special gift of compassion, always loving others and welcoming them into her family.
Some of mom’s favorite things to do: vacationing in Mexico, camping near or far, and taking trips to Penticton as a family.
All the grandkids remember the Beachwood trips, biking, pool time, big breakfast and trips to the ice cream store.
She always had her favorite floaty for the pool or lake and loved to relax in the sun. Nana juice and snacks galore for the kiddos, only our Best Nana would not be bothered by the slobbery little mouths.
Sunday lunch chaos was always a priority, which brought our family together on a regular basis. Mom was so excited to let us, and anyone know that little Jaycie was her 25th grandchild.
Mom also had a special resilience to endure hard things, she could handle so much and would continually place her hope in Jesus and His love. We especially saw this in her care for Derek through many hard years of illness, and for Jeff, after he was hurt in an accident on the farm.
She never gave up, even when they wanted to, she helped to carry them through.
Sheryl was preceded in death by her dad, Wilbur Stuit; son, Derek Tolsma; parents-in-law, John and Jenny Tolsma; and brother-in-law Sid Top.
Sheryl is survived by her husband Frank Tolsma, son James (Allison) and their children Jaclyn, Makayla, and Taylor; daughter Rebecca (Paul) Joostens and their children Noah (Jess), and Ian; son Greg (Sara) and their children Shannon (Lukas), Nathalie, Landon, and Caitlyn; son Jeff and his children Kaylee, Brodie, Tyler ,Milana, and Leyla; daughter Shelli (Jon) Fox and their children Austin and Kortnee (Tolsma), Abigail, Addison, Austin (little A), Ava, and Sadie; and daughter Melissa (Justin) VanBeek and their children Aleah, Levi, Kendra, and Jaycie.
Sheryl will be greatly missed by her mother Gertrude Stuit; and siblings Lamont (Heidi) Stuit, Candace (Kent) Bouwman, and Chad (Erika) Stuit; and siblings in-law Emma Top, Harold (Winnie), Henrietta (Jerry) Kaptein, Olga (Dick) Vander Kooi, John (Carolyn) and numerous aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Visitation was on Friday, April 7 at Gillies Funeral Home.
Graveside was April 8 at Monumenta Cemetery followed by memorial service at United Reformed Church, Lynden. Reception followed.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
