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Obituary: Ineke C. Willems

Oct 23, 2002

Memorial services for Ineke C. Willems, 75, Lawrence, will be at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002, at the Mustard Seed Christian Fellowship in Lawrence.

Mrs. Willems died Saturday, Oct. 19, 2002, at her home. She was born Oct. 13, 1927, in Rijswijk (ZH), the Netherlands (Holland) the daughter of Pieter Wessels and Annie Maria Cornelia Wessels-de Vries.

She and her husband, Nick, emigrated to South Africa in March 1948 and lived in Pretoria, Johannesburg, and Lyttleton. In 1954 they transferred to Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, until they emigrated to the United States in June 1960.

The couple co-founded the Mustard Seed Christian Fellowship in Lawrence in 1974. Serving as the senior pastor’s wife, she was the church’s long time spiritual leader and a Bible study teacher for many years. In 1997 she was instrumental in bringing the Alpha Course to Lawrence. For 12 years, she was co-host and sponsor of the Doorstep Ministries monthly potluck dinners.

She was a foster parent to more than 20 children and was a member of the Tenola Club and the Engineering Wives’ Club,

She married Nick Willems on Jan. 15, 1948, in Holland. He survives, of their home.

Other survivors include two daughters, Ann Kihm-Willems and Elise W. DreyfusWillems, both of Lawrence; a former foster daughter, Valerie Vieux of Lawrence; three sons, Hank M. Willems, Pieter J. Willems and Kevin B. Willems, all of Lawrence; three sisters, Ellen Forma-Wessels, Anneke PenningWessels and Clarie Uyterlinde-Wessels, all of Holland; 20 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorial contributions to the Mustard Seed Christian Fellowship Alpha Course, sent in care of the church or Warren-McElwain Mortuary in Lawrence.

A reception will follow the memorial service at the church. Online condolences may be sent to: info@warrenmcelwain.com (subject: Willems).