Jeannine passed away at the age of 88 after a courageous battle with cancer surrounded by loved ones who will strive to honor her memory by telling her stories and maintaining family traditions. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM Friday, September 23, 2022 at Northridge Baptist Church with burial at the Harrison Cemetery, Harrison, SD. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Thursday, September 22, 2022 at the Will Funeral Chapel with a prayer service at 7:00 PM.
Jean was born to the late Ben and Margaret VandenHoek in Harrison, SD on December 8, 1933. She was active in church throughout her life but mainly focused on her Baptist community in later years.
Jean married her best friend, Wesley DeHaai on September 2, 1953 in the First Reformed Church in Harrison, SD. Jean and Wesley raised eight children with devotion, patience, discipline and humility.
Jean was known for her loving, generous and caring soul as well as for her beautiful singing voice. She was the organist for the United Methodist Church in White Lake for a number of years and was a member of the Aurora Brule Community Chorus, performing both Easter and Christmas cantatas for many years.
While busy helping raise her children, she fostered over thirty additional children. In the early ‘70s she attended vocational school to obtain her nursing degree. After she retired from St. Joseph Hospital as a nurse, Jean operated a home for the elderly. She then volunteered in helping children with special needs. Later, Jean and Wesley operated a daycare for children out of their own home for many years. At heart, Jean was a passionate caregiver to everyone and always had time to give love and guidance to others. She will be dearly missed by those whose heart she touched and her loved ones.
Jean is survived by her loving husband Wesley of 69 years, children Leland (Alicia) DeHaai, Randy (Miae) Horvath, Laura DeHaai, Delwyn (JoLynn) DeHaai, Dee (Jim) Sweetser, Linda (Jeff) Hamburg, Lois (Wade) Runestad and David (Dawn) DeHaai as well as 17 grandchildren and 26 greatgrandchildren. She is also survived by brother-in-law Sylvan (Naydene) DeHaai, sister-in-laws Wilma VandenHoek and Arlene VandenHoek.
She was preceded in death by brothers Bill VandenHoek, Norman VandenHoek and grandson, Blake Runestad.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be sent to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org.