Anita Juliet Van Voorst

After a graceful battle of 5 years with Alzeheimers and 1 ½ years with cancer, Anita Juliet (Just) Van Voorst passed away in her home early Tuesday morning, April 30th at the age of 83. Anita’s life was a life well lived from the very beginning. She was born with on January 25, 1936, into a large German Lutheran Family with nine siblings on a farm in Clarkfield, Minnesota. Carl Just and Clara (nee Hartfiel) had ten children, 4 boys and 6 girls, the youngest, Janice, passed at age 6 months. The family all worked on the farm to grow all their own food, from planting to harvesting crops and a garden, as well as milking cows, rearing livestock and fowl, in order to feed the family. Her mother was a proficient seamstress which most of the girls learned in turn. She made their clothes, some of which were sent overseas to Germany during the war for those in need. She made the rugs and the drapes. The girls also learned to bake homemade bread and cinnamon rolls, a tradition which still carries through the grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. The family was very close, loving, hardworking and religious, which again is passed down through the generations and shared at continuing family reunions. From Clarkfield, Anita received her medical laboratory technician degree in Minneapolis. Soon after, she moved to Denver and worked for a Doctor as was an assistant and receptionist. Hugh and Anita met in Denver, Colorado through mutual friends. One of her first dates was a flight home to Minnesota with Hugh in a single engine airplane to see her family and the Illini football game. They were married in Wilmar, Minnesota on February 27, 1960. They moved back to Hugh’s stomping ground, Union Hill, Illinois. Anita started working for Dr. Lang in Kankakee on Court street and worked at Gaines Research Kennels in St. Anne. Her fulltime job was and tending to the business and the books of the Bowling Alley (17-47 Bowl) in Dwight as well as the apartments they had built, raising three children, Grant, Beth and Jill, and taking care of the home. She was socially active serving the community with her infectious smile in Junior Women’s League, Reddick School PTA and school events, and Bridge Club. As an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, she served on various church circles to help serve the community and taught Vacation Bible School many years. As the kids were growing, she was always supportive, present and active in their school functions by volunteering, making costumes & dresses, and cheering them on with their friends. She fed and treated all their friends as her own. Many cheeseburgers and grilled cheeses with tomato soup were made with love on her stove. After the kids graduated, Anita became more involved in volunteering with the Arthritis Foundation, Hospice Fundraising, and served on the board of Prairieview for ten years. She continued to serve Church committees, including the Banner Committee, making beautiful banners still displayed, as well as altar guild to decorating and preparing for service and communion. She made the pattern and wedding dress for Beth. Her favorite pastime involved doting on, caring for, and loving her two grandchildren, Clara VV Fisher (11) and Emma Van Voorst (9), continuing the traditions of teaching them to sew and bake, and making pretty dresses for them to enjoy. Anita’s life included the perk of travel, being married to an airline pilot. This was the time when china was used to serve meals in the air and it was easy to jump on a plane and go anywhere. This benefit was shared with the family to make lifelong memories of wonderful vacations all over the world. Fortunately, there are many memories, photos and friends as testament to this remarkable woman and the life she lived so beautifully. Surviving Anita are husband Hugh of Union Hill, son Grant of Union Hill and granddaughter Emma, daughter Beth and granddaughter Clara of Reddick, and daughter Jill and son in law, Gregg Olheiser of Urbana, Sister and Brother in Law, Barbara & William (Bill) Bumpous of Union Hill, loving caregiver Kari Barten, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins and friends. Preceding Anita in death were her parents, Carl & Clara Just, In laws Gilbert & Eileen Van Voorst; All siblings; Urban & Millie Just of Wilmar, MN , Gerald & Della Just of Clarkfield, MN, Carl & Glenda Just of Sunburg, MN, Delbert Just of Eugene, OR, Elaine & Harvey Nelson of Wilmar, MN, Evelyn & Bob Jurgenson of Eugene, OR, Angeline & Jack Stice of Saint Cloud, MN, Rebecca & William (Bill) Luther of San Angelo, TX. She was also preceded by one niece, Judy Just and three nephews, Randy and Kenny Just, and Jeff Stice. Thank you for taking the time to share in our celebration of her life in thoughts, words, or in person. Please join us for the visitation Tuesday, May 7 from 4-8 at Clancy Gernon Funeral home in Bourbonnais, and Wednesday from 10-11 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Herscher, followed by the funeral at 11 and burial at Coleman Cemetery Buckingham. Memorials may be made to Prairieview Lutheran Home in Danforth and Hospice of Kankakee Valley.

Anita Juliet Van Voorst

January 25, 1936 - April 30, 2019