John Talsma

J ohn T alsma, 62, of Chandler, died Saturday, August 16 , 2014 at the Pipestone County Medical Center in Pipestone, MN  Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 20, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm at the Chandler Christian Reformed Church in Chandler.  Services will be held on Thursday, August 21 at 11:00 am at the Chandler Christian Reformed Church.  Burial will be held at the Chandler Memorial Cemetery prior to the service.

John Allen Talsma was born on Mother’s Day, May 11, 1952 in Pipestone, MN.  He is the youngest of six children born to John and Anne (Hoek) Talsma.

John graduated from Southwest Christian High School in Edgerton, MN in 1970 and took off for Southern California the very next day with his lifelong friend, Jim Brouwer.  While in California, Jim and John bought a house together.  John worked for Adanced Concrete and Artesia Ready Mix.  John also had a beautiful bass voice, which he shared with a male chorale group, “The Choralers”

John was homesick for the family farm he was born and raised on, so he moved back to Minnesota in 1975.  He stayed on the farm until times were tough, and in 1986 headed back to California and went to work for Artesia Ready Mix Concrete.  In 1992, California was struggling and he returned again to the farm.  He raised hogs for a while and worked for T & R Construction part time, until the tornado came on June 16, 1992.  He then was employed full time and farmed on the side.

In December of 2000, John reconnected with Leona Jansma, whom he met and dated in 1974, and they were married on December 1, 2001 in Lynden, Washington.

On November 13, 2013, a tumor on John’s brain was discovered and he was diagnosed with metastasized melanoma.  John went to his heavenly home on Saturday, August 16, 2014, after his battle with cancer.

John will be remembered for loving his wife, the farm, Chandler Christian Elementary School, Chandler Christian Reformed Church where he held positions as deacon and elder.   He also loved his nephew and nieces and helped them many times in different circumstances. Traveling with his wife and friends on motorcycles, going to car shows, collecting John Deere toys and owning Muscle cars were some of the things John enjoyed doing.   He had a soft and caring heart.  He spoke and lived the truth and believed in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior.

John is survived by his wife, Leona of 12 ¾ years, two brothers, Ron (Faith) Talsma of Bellflower, CA, Jim (Harriet) Talsma of Edgerton, MN; three sisters, Carole (Dave) Bickle, Kalamazoo, MI, Mary Anne Talsma, Hawaiian Gardens, CA,  Dorrene (Dan) Pearson, Houston, TX; two aunts, Minnie (Hoek) Huisken, Edgerton, MN, Elizabeth (Talsma) Fransen, Alamosa, CO and one uncle, Dick Talsma, Edgerton, MN.

John is preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, and several uncles and aunts.