Margene N. Paarlberg

Margene Nellie (Huizenga) Paarlberg, age 93, passed from this earthly life into her heavenly home on August 17, 2025. She was born on April 23, 1932, to Henry and Cornelia (Kortenhoeven) Huizenga in Lansing, IL, as the first of their seven children. After Margene’s father passed away in 1943, the family moved to Highland, IN. Margene graduated from Illiana Christian High School (Lansing). She married Ralph Paarlberg on February 27, 1953 at Highland Christian Reformed Church. Margene and Ralph started their married life in South Holland, IL, where Ralph farmed with his father. In 1955, they moved to Fort Leonard Wood, MO, where Ralph served in the army for two years. Upon his discharge, they returned to South Holland and raised their family of five children. Margene was a selfless and devoted wife, mom, and supporter of the family farm. In 1974, they moved to a farm near Manteno, IL. As the children grew, Margene helped on the farm with planting tomatoes, as well as with onion harvest and milling onions. Her garden produced many foods that she canned and preserved for the family. She enjoyed sewing and baking, especially making cookies and pies. Margene deeply loved her family and treasured time with her children, their spouses, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Babysitting her grandchildren was special to her, and they loved being with Grandma. Her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was the foundation of her life. She and Ralph read the Bible daily and regularly attended and served in various ways at Faith Reformed Church, and later First Reformed Church, both in South Holland. They enjoyed traveling together, including going on mission trips. Margene and Ralph were married for 72 years until his death on March 20, 2025. Margene is survived by her five children: Gary (Janet) of Bradley, Bruce (Cheryl) of Manteno, Marcia (Ron) Davault of Bargersville, IN, Linda (Virgil) Dick of Whitehall, WI, and Kevin of Sycamore. Nine grandchildren: Scott Paarlberg, Michael Paarlberg, Kristin (Scott) Dykstra, Jason (Amanda) Paarlberg, Becky (Kaleb) Throckmorton, Brian (Brittany) Davault, Julie Dick, Aaron Dekker and Brandon Dick. Three great-grandchildren: Cohen, Jaiden and Adylee Dykstra. Her brother Henry Huizenga, sisters Marie Biejes, Joyce (John) Kerssies, and Jacque (Terry) Vander Slik, and twenty-one nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, six in-laws and two nephews. Visitation will be held on Friday, August 22, 5:00-7:00 pm at Manteno Church of the Nazarene. A Celebration of Margene’s Life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 23, with visitation one hour prior to the service; a luncheon for all will follow the service. Private burial will be on a later date at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in her name to the Bible League International in Crete, IL (bibleleague.org).