Henry Netjes was born on November 10, 1923, on the family farm of his parents, Walter Netjes and Rena Broekhuis, which was located near Chandler, Minnesota on November 10, 1923.  Henry was a lifelong member of the Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota, Minnesota and was baptized in 1923 and became a confessing member when he was 16 years old.  Henry attended the Leota Christian School in Leota Minnesota and graduated from the eighth grade in the spring of 1937, and was awarded his high school diploma from the Edgerton High School on May 27, 2000.  After graduating from Leota Christian School, Henry worked on the family farm and worked on neighboring farms.

   Henry was an Army Veteran of World War II, serving in the Asiatic Pacific Theater.  Henry was drafted and entered the 160th Infantry Regiment, Company B, on March 9, 1945.  During his service, Henry and was stationed first in Philippines and later in Hawaii, with the 4025th Signal Service Group.  He was awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal and the World Ware II Victory medal.  Henry was honorably discharged, at the rank of Sergeant, on November 22, 1946.  Upon discharge Henry returned to the family farm.

   Henry married Alyda Rodenburgh on February 21, 1947, in the country home of her parents near Leota, Minnesota, with the Reverend Peter Jonker officiating.  After their marriage, Henry and Alyda farmed for a year near Woodstock, Minnesota and then farmed for the next four years near Chandler, Minnesota.  In January 1952, Henry and Alyda moved to farm of Alyda’s parents near Leota, Minnesota, where they farmed until their retirement in 1989.  In 1994 Henry and Alyda moved from the family farm to a home they purchased in Leota, Minnesota.  Henry became a resident of Edgebrook apartments in February 2011 after breaking his hip while visiting Alyda at Edgebrook on February 14, 2011.  Henry had the blessing of celebrating his 65th wedding anniversary with Alyda in February 2012. 

   Henry is survived by his five children, eleven grandchildren, and fifteen great grandchildren.  Les and Bonnie (Van Essen) of Rock Rapids, Iowa, and their children Eric and Mark, and their seven grandchildren; Warren and Verna (Van Lant) Netjes, of Andover, Minnesota, and their children Sherri, Vicki, and Michael and their four grandchildren; Lugene and Karen (Netjes) Sas of Fort Collins, Colorado and their children Johsua, Kristen, and Lauren and their four grandchildren; David and Linda (Mack) Netjes, of Wayzata, Minnesota, and their daughter Alexia; and Delwin and Kristine (Elliott) Netjes of Plymouth, Minnesota, and their children Luke and Tayler.

   Henry was preceded in in death by his wife, Alyda Netjes (2013), two infant sons, Ronald Netjes (1947) and Wesley Netjes (1948), a twin sister, Dorthy Van Peursem (1999), three brothers Elbertus Netjes (2009), Nelvin Netjes (2010), and Wallace Netjes (1991), and parents, Walter Netjes (1952) and Rena Broekhuis (1967).

 Funeral will be Wednesday, September 21, 2016, at 10:30 am at the Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Burial will be in the Leota Community Cemetery. Dingmann Funeral Home, in Adrian, and the Leota Burial Association are in charge of arrangements.

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