Marie Klarenbeek

MARIE KLARENBEEK was born on August 14, 1924 to Jacob and Nellie (Van Buitjen) Schouwenburg on a farm near Beaver Creek, Minnesota. Throughout her childhood the family moved and farmed on various places in Rock County, Minnesota. Following her education at country school through the eighth grade, Marie helped on her parent’s farm and other nearby farm places with housekeeping work. While housekeeping at the Marietta Hotel in Rock Rapids, Iowa, Marie met Gilbert Klarenbeek. On December 7, 1945 the couple was united in marriage at Marie’s parents’ home near Steen, Minnesota. The couple then made their home south of Rock Rapids on a farm near Lakewood Corner where they were blessed with their two daughters, Gloria and Colleen. In 1953, the family moved to a farm near Steen, Minnesota, before moving to a farm on the east side of Magnolia, Minnesota in March of 1957. Marie and Gilbert retired from farming in 1972 and moved to Luverne, Minnesota where they built a home. Marie then went to work in housekeeping at the Luverne Community Hospital. During the 1980s, Gilbert went through two leg amputations with Marie by his side providing care for him. Gilbert passed away in February of 1992. Marie continued to live in their home. She later retired from the hospital after 28 ½ years and then moved to the Oaks apartments in Luverne in February of 2002. She lived at the Oaks for 18 years before transferring to Poplar Creek and then to the Mary Jane Brown nursing home. On Wednesday, October 19, 2022, Marie died peacefully at the Good Samaritan Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne at the age of 98 years, 2 months, and 5 days.

Marie was a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne where she belonged to Circle. She volunteered at Bibles for Missions in Worthington, Minnesota, and at Justice For All in Rock Valley, Iowa. Marie passed on the skills of handcrafting, cooking and baking to her daughters. She especially loved playing cards with friends and family. Although she faced many health adversities in the later stage of her life, through her strong will, determination and love of life, she became known as the Energizer Bunny because she kept on going.

Marie is lovingly remembered by her two daughters, Gloria (Lyle) Nelson of Luverne, and Colleen (James) Spahr of Petoskey, Michigan; grandchildren, Angela Nelson and Anthony (Jenn) Nelson; great-grandchildren, Vivian Whetstone and Amalia Whetstone; step-grandchildren, Tammy Spahr and Todd Spahr; step-great-grandchildren, Ashley Mack, Gabriell Spahr, Tate Spahr, and Benjamin Spahr; sister, Anna Schouwenburg of Hills, Minnesota; and brother, Donald Schouwenburg of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Gilbert; sister, Sophie Berghorst; brothers, Bert, Simon, Henry, Marinus, and Peter Schouwenburg; an infant sister; and her parents.