Hendrika W. Bruyns

Born Hendrika Wilhelmina, June 1, 1930, the 8th child of Gillis and Maria (Schrier) Suurmond in Oosterbeek, Netherlands. Died peacefully on September 1, 2011 at the home of her son, in Hohenwald ,Tennessee. Hers is not the story of a human being on a spiritual journey, but of a spiritual being on a human journey. As far back as she could remember, Riek had a special relationship with God, her Father, which had been cultivated as a child at her fathers knee. She knew that God had no favorites, but she also felt an assurance that if He did, she was one. Her childhood in Holland was never boring. She has written birthday letters to her grandchildren, entitled when I was your age in which she shared her childhood experiences. She wrote stories about the invasion of the Germans in 1940, about the Winter of hunger during which she ate tulips bulbs and how she learned to survive by laying low, acting dumb and not causing trouble. She told about the forced evacuation of their town in 1944, during which the family took only as many layers of clothing they could wear and as many belongings as they could carry, knowing they would never return to that home. And she wrote the story about the Liberation of Holland by the invasion of Allied Forces in 1945, which herald the end of WWII. In July of 1954, Riek completed her studies in France and passed the exam to become a French language teacher, and being fluent in Dutch, German and French, she explored her options to become an interpreter for the United Nations. Then she met Martin Bruyns. He brought her to a new church, and in 1955, Riek received the infilling of the Holy Spirit, which started a new growth in her relationship with Jesus. Together with her husband, Martin, she immigrated to the US, in 1956, sponsored by the Gospel Assembly church. In 1958, they moved to Herrin, Illinois, where they made their home for 53 years. The family was in and out of churches until the late sixties, then were church-less for a number of years. During that dark time, she battled depression. She had let others come between her and God. She lost the assurance of her faith and lived in unbelief. Yet, God carried her through. A friend found her, bleeding and dying on the Jericho road and took her to the Christian Bookshelf Bible Study. Healing came slowly but thoroughly and she re-found her special relationship with God, her Father, and the Joy of the Lord was her strength. She remained a member of Christian Life Center the rest of her life. During the seven years that she was the Prayer Parent Coordinator, there, many children came under prayer covering, and the prayers of a righteous woman availeth much. She had six children, and for many years, motherhood was her full time occupation. She learned to speak English when her oldest went to kindergarten. She was involved in Girl Scouts with her daughters and Boy Scouts with her sons. She passed on her Dutch heritage through family traditions, our favorite being SinterKlaas, (one of the Christmas celebrations). She loved family gatherings. And walking with her oldest son at Giant City State Park and climbing the water tower, there, gave her much joy. Riek learned to drive a car at the age at 48 and found her independence. She went to John A Logan College and got her Associates degree in Science, graduating with a 5.0 GPA. She celebrated her 50th birthday on a class trip canoeing down the Current River. She learned Spanish and then taught High School at the Hafer Christian Academy. For many years, she and her husband volunteered in a Ministerial Alliance sponsored/ Harrison Foundation funded program. The phone number was 942-HELP and it rang into their home. She bought groceries, paid utility bills, provided transportation and made up beds in the basement. Many mornings, the children would wake up to find a stranger at the breakfast table. She became an American citizen. She faithfully attended the annual Veterans day celebrations. It was her way to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by America in WWII and her way to say thank you for rescuing her. She was a 15 year Breast Cancer survivor, and her doctor called her a walking miracle. She wasnt surprised. Riek got a part time job serving meals for the Senior Citizens, and stayed on until she retired after 20 years of service. One of her favorite pastimes was to have a good conversation, and with her friends there, she had many good talks. In May, 2011, battling a progressive dementia and no longer able to stay in her own home, she went to stay with her son and his family. She died peacefully on Sept 1, 2011 listening to the reading of Psalm 34. I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Surviving: husband: Martin Children: Martin Bruyns, Jr; Annemarieke (Ray) Mileur; Caroline Price; Wilma (John Paul) Dohanich; Hendrick (Claudine) Bruyns Grandchildren: Seth (Kristen) Gipson; Stephen (Ana), Anna, & John Price; Sarah, Elizabeth & John Dohanich; Erick(Debbie), Abby, Katie, Ben, Nate & Sam Bruyns. Preceded in death by parents: Gillis & Maria Suurmond; parents-in-law: Meyer & Mary Bruyns; son - Johannes (Hans) Bruyns , granddaughter Emily Gipson, parents, parents-in-law, The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, September 3, 2011 at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home in Herrin. Rev. Ralph Brandon will officiate. A private family burial will be held later at Herrin City Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10:00 AM until time of service, Saturday, at the funeral home. Memorial donations are suggested to Shawnee Crisis Pregnancy Center and will be accepted at Johnson-Hughes Funeral Home/ 201 S. 13th St./ Herrin, IL 62948.