Johanna Marie Terpstra , age 92, of Lynden was welcomed home by her Lord and Savior on Saturday, February 26, 2011. "Jo" was born on January 11, 1919 to Henry and Minnie Polinder in Los Angeles, but lived in Lynden and the Whatcom County area since 1934. She was a gracious, kind, tender-hearted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Jesus was central in her life, and she left a rich spiritual legacy of love, generosity and faith for her children and grandchildren; profoundly touching their lives. She is one of those women of whom the Book of Proverbs declares "…her children rise up and call her 'Blessed!'". She dedicated her musical gifts to her Lord as organist for 52 consecutive years in the Second Christian Reformed Church of Lynden. "Jo" was preceded to Heaven by her husband Erwin in 1983; son Bob in 2010; sister Dorothy at age 15; brother Harold at age 16; brother Gerald Polinder; parents Henry and Minnie Polinder; and step-mothers Kate Gelderman Polinder and Theresa Prince Polinder. She leaves behind her son Harold and wife Mavis of Lynden, daughter-in-law Nella Terpstra of Lynden, son Gordon and wife Cheryl of Bellingham, daughter Doris Libolt and husband Bob of Lynden, sister-in-law Shirley Polinder of Lynden; sixteen grandchildren and twenty-seven great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held Friday, March 4, 1:00 pm at Monumenta Cemetery followed by a 2 pm memorial service at Second Christian Reformed Church, 8th & Front St. in Lynden. Gifts in her memory may be made to Second CRC, Building Restoration Fund, 8th & Front St. or Lynden Christian School, 417 Lyncs Dr. both of Lynden, WA 98264.
