Rena Cannegieter

Rena Cannegieter, 92 of Rock Valley passed away peacefully at Hegg Health Center on Wednesday, August 26, 2026. She was a resident of Whispering Heights.

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, September 2, 2026, at the Calvin Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley, with Pastor Doug De Groot officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery at Rock Valley. Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. The funeral service will be livestreamed on the church website at http://www.calvincrcrv.org.

Rena Cannegieter, the youngest of 10, born to Harry and Hilda (Miedema) Halma, born June 9, 1934. Her childhood memories she shared were on the farm, enjoying her sack swing, riding pony, and playing ball with classmates at the country school. She always commented on how the older kids allowed the younger kids to play first.

Rena loved to roller skate and while out with friends, she met the love of her life, Donald Cannegieter. You could find them dancing on skates. In their marriage, they would dance and polka very gracefully together, joined as one. They were married November 6, 1953, and were blessed with 65 and ½ years together. To this union they were blessed with 5 children.

Rena worked side by side with Don with his trucking business, being his secretary and bookkeeper, even while raising the children. Later she worked for Town and Country Implement as a bookkeeper, then volunteered with Don at JFA.

She was a member of Calvin Christian Reformed Church of Rock Valley, where she sang in the choir, a Calvinette Counselor, and attended Harmony Workers Bible study.

She had a true Servants Heart. The neighbor kids would walk in, not realizing you should knock first, having an open door to the entire neighborhood. A cup of coffee and cookies always offered to her guests. Taking care of her grandchildren, having family dinners, and hosting extended family for the holidays gave her pure joy. Precious moments to her were playing piano with grandchildren singing along.

She is survived by her children, Bonnie (Lloyd) Dekkers of Hawarden, Iowa, Wesley (Helen) of Rock Valley, Dennis (Kathy) of Rock Valley, and Steve (Shanna) of Rock Valley; 13 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Joan Caswell of Inwood, Iowa, Lois (Gerrit) VanDeStouwe of Rock Valley, Shirley Berkenpas of Rock Valley, and Karen Clark of Washington; and many nieces and nephews.

Rena was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald; son, Marvin Cannegieter; grandson, Jacob Cannegieter; great-granddaughter, Belle VanBemmel; Halma brothers and spouses, George (Ann), Charles (Alice), Martin (Ruth), John (Ella Mae), Roger (June), Clarence (Connie), and Sam (Judy); sisters and spouses, Frieda (Bert) Veltkamp and Albertha (Lawrence Gorter/Russ Johnson); and brothers-in-law, Richard Berkenpas and Wally Caswell.