Corretta Catherine (Bielema) Van Kooten, 96, of Morrison, IL, died Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at Rock River Hospice & Home in Sterling, IL.
Coretta was born December 3, 1929, in Fulton, IL, to Joseph and Dorothea (Sterenberg) Bielema, Jr. She married Bruce Van Kooten on February 17, 1950. Together they raised five children, Cindy, Rod, Monte, Sara, and Melinda. Coretta was a proud graduate of Fulton High School. She enjoyed sharing her yearbooks, while a resident of Resthave Care & Rehabilitation. Coretta was a member of the former Morrison Christian Reformed Church, where she taught Sunday School and was a member of the Golden Hour and Ladies Aid. She was also a member of a Home Extension Group and the Fulton Christian School Auxilliary. Coretta was an excellent cook and baker, known for her pies. Her passion in life was sewing, second to her love for her Savior, Jesus Christ.
She is survived by her daughters, Sara (Dave) Vander Kleed and Melinda Damhoff; son, Monte Van Kooten; 15 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her son, Rod (Karen) Van Kooten, in 1985; daughter, Cindy (Darrell) Busch, in 2011; husband, Bruce, in 2012; siblings, Bernadine Sanders, Della Tichler, Karen Brands, and Joel Bielema.
Visitation will be held from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m., on Friday, May 1, 2026, at the Morrison Chapel of Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home.
Her Funeral Service will follow at 11:00 a.m., at the funeral home, with Pastor John Byker officiating.
Interment will be at Grove Hill Cemetery in Morrison, IL.
Memorials have been established to Rock River Hospice & Home and Resthave Care & Rehabilitation.