Funeral services for Rene Waalkens, age 85, formerly of Hollandale, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 23, at the Hollandale Reformed Church. The Rev. Mark Volkers will officiate. Interment will be in the Hollandale Cemetery. Visitation is 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, at the Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home, and one hour prior to the services at the church.

Rene died Monday, Jan. 20, 2003, at the Albert Lea Good Samaritan Center.

Rene Waalkens was born Aug. 28, 1917, to TDM and Rene (Dykstra) Loverink in Worthington. On June 30, 1937, she was united in marriage to Pete Waalkens in Hollandale. Rene was a wife, homemaker, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She loved to work in her vegetable and flower gardens. Her gardens brightened this world, as did she.

Rene was a member of the Hollandale Reformed Church. She was active in the Mary-Martha Circle, the Morning Bible Study group, and the Friendship Bible Coffee Group. She taught Sunday school for 13 years. Rene was a member of the Happy Homemakers Club and enjoyed the crafts and activities of the club. Rene enjoyed sewing and created quilts for her grandchildren. She also participated in sewing quilts at her church for missionary work.

Grandma always had time for her grandchildren. They would look forward to her tea parties and each child had his/her own special teacup and saucer. Rene’s yellow Volkswagen Beetle was affectionately called “Gramma’s Buggy” by her grandchildren. “Gramma’s Buggy” was preprogrammed to stop at any garage sale sign. Rene loved shopping at the rummage sales.

Survivors include her husband, Pete; sons: Peter and wife Karen Waalkens, and Herbert and wife Barbara Waalkens; daughter, Rene Marlene Waalkens-Masyga and husband, Michael Masyga; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; three brothers and four sisters; and nieces, nephews and friends.

Rene was preceded in death by her parents, Tom and Rene (Dykstra) Loverink; her sisters: Mary (Loverink) Waalkens and Jennie (Loverink) Rietveld; her brothers: John, Jack, and Herbert Loverink; and sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews.