Henrika passed away Tuesday morning at her home at Parkway Place Apartments in Houston.
She was 97 years, 7 months and 18 days of age.
Henrika Maria Haalboom was born October 4, 1914, in Taintor, Iowa, the daughter of Aris
and Joanna (Geerlings) Haalboom, both of whom had emigrated from Holland.
She received her education from Mahaska County public schools, afterwards working as
both a rural grade school teacher in Union (1933-34) and as a physician's
nurse-assistant for Dr. P.M. Day from 1934-46.
Called "Dolly" by all those who knew her, Henrika was united in marriage with Edward Raymond Lowe June 15, 1941, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oskaloosa. Their plans took a jolt at the end of the year with the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor; soon after Ray was drafted into the service. After the war the couple set up home in Oskaloosa, raising four children.
Henrika, a homemaker, and active in the Catholic Church (a mainstay in the choir and Ladies Altar Society), lovingly focused on what she thought to be her number one task in life, which was getting her husband and offspring to heaven. In the process, she not only never forgot anyone's name but, to the day she died, she remembered the people and events of their lives. No one who knew her forgot her or failed to notice her sincere, honest regard for them. To her community of relatives and friends, she is absolutely irreplaceable.
Once her children were older, Henrika entered the work-world, serving as a receptionist and secretary at the Health Office at William Penn College from 1966-73. In her sixties she enjoyed working in retail, including sales clerk positions at World of Fabric (1973-77) and Ross's (1977-1983), and even, until recent weeks, helping run the gift shop at her residence community, Park Place Apartments. After living her entire life in Iowa, Henrika, at the age of 80, sold her home and moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to be near two of her sons, and their children. There she was an integral member of the St. James Women's club and Newcomer's (and left behind a legacy for making Dutch Letters). Then, in 2004, at the age of 90, she moved to Houston, where she lived actively and independently right up until her death.
Henrika is survived by her four children, Jim (Mary Ann) Lowe of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Ted (Barbara) Lowe of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Judy Lowe of Des Moines, Iowa, and John (Susan) Lowe of Houston, Texas; 9 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and best friend Jay Kapadia.
Dolly was preceded in death by her parents, and husband Ray (October 31, 1989), brother Gerrit, and sisters Iris and Arlene.
Memorials may be made to the Arthritis Foundation
Visitation: will begin at 10 a.m., Friday morning, May 25, 2012 at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel. The family will be present from 5 - 7 p.m. to greet visitors. A 7:15 p.m. Rosary Service will follow the visitation. Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., Saturday morning, May 26, 2012 at St. Mary's Catholic Church with Reverend Father Ron Hodges officiating.
