Josephine Van Oort

Josephine (Boender) Van Oort was born to Joe and Rena (DeBoer) Boender on June 9, 1929. 

She grew up on a farm near Hospers, Iowa with 3 sisters and 3 brothers. 

She graduated from Newkirk High School in 1946 and attended Northwestern Junior College from 1946-1948. She worked as a Secretary to the Registrar at Northwestern and took courses to get her diploma in 1951. 

She married Jean Van Oort, June 10, 1952 and lived on the farm near Matlock, Iowa until 1970 when the family moved to Denver, Colorado. 

Josephine worked at Iliff Preschool as a cook and worked at church as part of the Women’s guild, played organ in church and loved to crochet and embroider. In 2011, she suffered a stroke and moved to Porter Place Senior Living Facility until 2023 when the facility closed. She then moved to Brookdale Meridian Senior Living with several friends from Porter Place. She enjoyed playing Bingo, Scrabble and visiting with friends.

She is survived by her children: Norene (Dave) Buschbach, Rev. Harlan (Pat) Van Oort, Jolene (Dean) Linenberger, LuAnne (Keith) Vander Horst, Jennifer Van Oort, 8 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren as well as many nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jean, son Philip Van Oort, granddaughter Hope, brothers: Henry Boender, Claude Boender and Rev. John Boender, sisters: Lucretia Boender, Adriana Boender and Arlene Ver Hoek.