Funeral services for John Heerema Sr., 86, of Hollandale will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hollandale Christian Reformed Church. The Rev. Gary Brouwers will officiate. Interment will be at the Hollandale Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service.

John died Tuesday, May 27, 2008, in Owatonna.

John Heerema Sr. was born on May 25, 1922, to Jacob and Affiena (Menninga) Heerema in Paddepoel, Groneningen, Netherlands. He grew up in the Netherlands and went to an Agricultural Vocational School in the Netherlands. John came to the United States in 1948 and settled in Clarks Grove. He was united in marriage to Ann Rietsema on Dec. 17, 1948, in Clarks Grove. In 1958, the couple moved to their farm in rural Blooming Prairie where they lived until retiring in 1999. John and Ann moved to Hollandale where they lived for the last several years. John was a member of the Hollandale Christian Reformed Church. He loved farming, reading and fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Ann of Hollandale; children, Alida (Larry) Fish of Michigan, Evelyn (Arlie) Olsen of Blooming Prairie, Sharon (Mike) Marreel of Owatonna, John (Barb) Heerema of Owatonna; grandchildren, Melissa (John) Kellerman, Ryan Fish, Zachary Fish, Ann Marie Olsen, Chris (Cara) Olsen, Paul (Ashley) Olsen, Matthew (Jasey) Olsen, Alysha and Ashley Heerema; great-grandchildren, Jordan Kellerman, Drew Kellerman and Christian Olsen; sisters, Ettie Vrieling of the Netherlands, and Hilda Eisses of Washington; brother, Albertus Heerema of the Netherlands; many nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Affiena; sisters, Eika Heerema and Menke VanWiernen; and brother, Kees (Corneles) Heerema.

Memorials are preferred to the Hollandale Christian School.

John always felt his greatest heritage was that all four of his children loved the Lord and loved each other.