Ruth Dena Gouwens

Ruth Dena Verduin Gouwens, of Prospect Heights, Illinois, died on August 11, 2016, at the age of 93. Born December 22, 1922, in the family farmhouse near Chicago Heights, she was the youngest of Teunis and Rena Rietveld Verduin’s six children: Cornelius (Agnes), Marie (The Reverend Christian Walvoord), Ellen (Rob DeYoung), Harold (Gerarda), Carl (Joanne), and Ruth. She was married to Paul Robert Gouwens for 65 years, from 1944 until his death in 2010. They lived in South Holland, Illinois, until 1969, and then in Prospect Heights. She was a member of First Reformed Church of South Holland, followed by membership in Peace Reformed Church of Mount Prospect and First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights. She is survived by her four children and four grandchildren: David and wife Sharon; Laura; Lee and wife Mary, and their children Sarah, Thomas, and Kenneth; and Kay and husband Peter Maassen, and daughter Lillian; and by many nieces and nephews. A brief public Committal Service will be held Monday, August 22, 11:30 a.m., in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Lansing, Illinois. At 1:00 p.m. there will be a Service of Witness to the Resurrection at First Reformed Church of South Holland, followed by a luncheon reception at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family invites contributions to Clearbrook (www.clearbrook.org, 1835 West Central Road, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005), any Alzheimer’s related charity, or other charity of choice. Arrangements entrusted to Smits, DeYoung-Vroegh Funeral Home 649 E. 162nd St. (Rt.6/159th St.) South Holland, IL.