Ruth Kornelis Obituary

Ruth H. Kornelis Ruth H. Kornelis, 80, a homemaker of Visalia passed away Saturday, December 24, 2011. Ruth was born in 1931 in Pella, Iowa. It was in this small town of Dutch Immigrants that Ruth spent her childhood. In 1949 Ruth and her family moved to the southern Californian town of Bellflower. It was here that Ruth met and married her lifelong husband Sidney Kornelis with whom she raised four children, Tim, Tracy, Kathy, and Mark. Ruth possessed a fervent enthusiasm for children which she vocationally exhibited first as an elementary school teacher at Bellflower Christian School and then as a mother. Even though she gave up teaching full-time to dedicate herself to her children Ruth was never able to fully extricate herself from the classroom. Throughout her life, Ruth continued to find herself working with children as a volunteer in both church and public school programs. Ruth and Sid moved up north to Cupertino residing there for 30 years until finally retiring to Visalia, California in 2001 in order to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Naturally and effortlessly, of course, Ruth's love for children found clear expression in her affectionate commitment to her grandchildren in whom she derived one of her greatest earthly delights, both watching and guiding them as they all increased in faith and love for our Lord Jesus Christ. Surrounded by many of her children and grandchildren, Ruth passed away peacefully in her home as her family ushered her into her heavenly abode reading the Psalms and Confessions of the Church. Condolences may be e-mailed to [email protected] She is survived by her husband, Sidney Kornelis of Visalia; sons, Tim & wife Trish Kornelis of Visalia, Mark & wife Amy Kornelis of Holland, Michigan; daughters, Tracy & husband Bern VanderHelm of Visalia, Kathy & husband Mel Jonkman of Highland, Indiana; brother, Cal & wife Linda Vander Ark of Bellflower, CA; grandchildren, Matt Jonkman, Brian Kornelis, Michael Kornelis, Joshua Jonkman, Emma Kornelis, Kyle VanderHelm, Amy Jonkman, Ryan VanderHelm, Darren Kornelis, Kevin Kornelis, Ari Kornelis, Eric VanderHelm and Miriam Kornelis, great-grandchild, Annabelle Jonkman. Celebration of Life Service Thursday, December 29, 2011, 11:00 AM at Visalia Christian Reformed Church, 1030 S. Linwood, Visalia. Visitation Wednesday, December 28, 2011, 11:00 AM-2:00 PM at Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Private burial at Visalia District Cemetery.