Jeanette Van Genderen was born on April 14, 1914 south of New Sharon, Iowa. She was the youngest of fifteen children that were born to William and Anna DeHoog Van Genderen. The family later moved east of Sully, Iowa where she attended the Taylor Country Grade School. Jeanette was united in marriage with Teunis G. DeRuiter in Sully in a double ceremony with his sister, Elsie and Frank Baarda, on June 15, 1937. To this union three children were born: Arnold Lee, Bonita Kay and Daryl Gene. Teunis and Jeanette were life-long farmers in the Jasper and Poweshiek County area. The farmed near Newton and Searsboro prior to moving to his parents' farm north of Lynnville in 1948. Jeanette was a full-time caring and devoted wife and mother. She began baking pies for the Sully Restaurant as a teenager, which prepared her to make wonderful meals and twice-a-day 'coffee times' for her family, friends, neighbors and farm workers. She spent much time cooking, quilting, gardening, canning and freezing her produce each summer as well as maintaining a lovely flower garden. She was also known to visit many of the local fishing ponds attempting to catch the 'big ones'. She was so proud one afternoon that two large-mouth bass succumbed to her endeavors'the first at four pounds and the second at seven pounds! Teunis and Jeanette faithfully attended their children's school sporting, music and various other activities throughout their school years. They sold and moved off this farm, which had been in the DeRuiter family for eighty years, on December 31, 1999 to the Seeland Park Retirement Community in Grinnell. Jeanette enjoyed the socialization of the community and always looked forward to visiting with their many friends, neighbors and fellow residents. Teunis and Jeanette enjoyed attending Sunday church, gospel music, local and TV sporting events, dining out, visiting friends and relatives, along with attending many activities in the Jasper, Poweshiek and Marion county areas. Private caretakers were hired in 2003 to help them as their health declined. Teunis passed away on December 1, 2003. Jeanette developed macular degeneration, suffered mini-strokes as well as a major stroke in December of 2002. These strokes resulted in her living with vascular dementia the past several years. She bonded closely with her in-home caretakers who took wonderful care of her until September of 2007, when she moved to Trinity Care Center in Des Moines, Iowa to be closer to her daughter. Her physical health continued to deteriorate as she experienced several fractures from falls which resulted in two hip surgeries within a three week period. She and Teunis both passed away in the same room at Hospice of Central Iowa's Kavanagh House on 56th Street in Des Moines. Jeanette passed away on May 18, 2008 attaining the age of 94 years, one month and four days. Jeanette was a petite, meticulous, strong, diligent and hard working lady who, willingly, made many sacrifices to protect and care for her family. Her children who loved and will miss her are: Arnold L. and Betty DeRuiter of Lime Springs, Iowa Mark DeRuiter of Byron, Minnesota Janet and Tim Smith of Elk River, Minnesota Zachary Smith Kelsey Smith Craig and Sherri DeRuiter of Delaware, Ohio Bonita K. and Harry F. (Bud) Wertz of Johnston, Iowa Step grandchildren:Kris (Scott) Cross of Lee Summit, Missouri Paulina Cross Peg (Tom) Elefson of Independence, Missouri Cameron, Parker and Erica Elefson Daryl G. DeRuiter of Hart, Michigan Ashley Quinn of Sonoma, California Of her original family, Jeanette leaves just one sister, Nellie (Bernard) Kooista, presently of Oskaloosa, Iowa along with a sister-in-law, Irene DeRuiter (William) Moes of Sully, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her husband, Teunis; by her parents: William and Anna Van Genderen; her parents-in-law: Arie and Hermina DeRuiter; and the following brothers, sisters and their spouses; Gerret (Maggie) Van Genderen, Gertie (Paul) Van Der Kamp, Margaret (William) Leydens, Henrietta (Joe) Poyner, Kate (Peter) Kleinpaste, Lena (Ed) Bosare, Leonard (Jennie) Van Genderen, John (Bertha) Van Genderen, Peter (Dorothy) Van Genderen, Minnie (Lyle) Brand, three siblings who died in infancy and several nieces and nephews, along with brother and sister-in-laws: Wilma DeRuiter (Glenn) Van Steenwyk and Elsie DeRuiter (Frank) Baarda. Teunis and Jeanette attended the Sully Community Church and the Lynnville Friends Church during their lifetime.