07/12/2005
Theresa Lucille (Nieburg) Kingma was born on January 14, 1922 at Pella. She was the one of two children born to John and Nina Marie Van Gorp Nieburg. As a young girl, she attended school in Pella and eventually graduated with the class of 1940 from Knoxville High School in Knoxville, Iowa.
She then went on and attended Central College in Pella for one semester before transferring to Iowa State University in Ames. She majored in Home Economics and graduated from there with the class of 1944.
Theresa took a position with the Pella High School and taught home economics there from 1946 until 1954.
On July 30, 1953, she was united in marriage with Gerrit Kingma, a son of Albert and Wopkje Kingma. To this union, four children were born: John Earl, Gary Lee, Paul Edward, and Jeannetta Marie. Theresa was a diligent homemaker and excellent mother to her four children.
Gerrit and Theresa established Kingma Motors in August 1955 and operated it together until his death in September 1977.
Theresa then assumed ownership of their two Chrysler, Plymouth, and Dodge stores in Pella and Oskaloosa.
These businesses 's along with a large fleet business, which served the Iowa Department of Transportation, the Iowa Board of Regents, Iowa General Services, as well as several other state agencies, kept Theresa busy until her retirement in 1990. The Kingma family attained the distinction of being charter members of the Chrysler Pentastar Club, which was accredited to the top 150 dealerships nationwide.
Theresa was a good listener and enjoyed spending countless hours visiting with friends, and new-made friends along the way of life. She enjoyed babysitting her grandchildren and spending time with her family, whom she dearly loved.
After several years of failing health, Theresa passed away at the Pella Regional Health Center on July 12, 2005, at the age of 83 years.
Those left to cherish her memory are her four children, their spouses, and their families: John Kingma, Gary and Beth (Keuning) Kingma, Paul Kingma all of Pella and Jeannetta " Netta" and Keith Van Gent of Sheldon.
Theresa was the last surviving member of her original family.
She was preceded in death by her dear husband Gerrit, her parents, John and Nina Marie Nieburg, and her infant brother, John Gilbert Nieburg.
Theresa was a member of the Second Reformed Church in Pella. She enjoyed storytelling, sewing, and traveling- especially to various family and Chrysler Corporation functions. She will be remembered for being strong-willed, having a determined personality, and her patience and love to care for her family.
For those desiring, memorials may be made to the " Thursday Night in Pella", to be used for children's activities.
The Pella Chronicle, August 11, 2005