Obituary of Naomi Ruth Bosch

    Naomi Ruth Bosch, daughter of William and Dena (Hofmeyer) De Roos, was born on November 18, 1923, in Sanborn, IA. She attended a one-room country school in Summit Township through the 8th grade and completed her high school education at the Archer, IA High School, graduating in 1941. She worked at the local telephone office for one year and then attended a branch of Iowa State Teachers College. After completion, she began her three-year teaching career in a one-room country school.

    On August 8, 1946, she was united in marriage to Arthur Bosch at the Sanborn First Reformed Church. They began farming near Sanborn where they raised their son and two daughters. In 1989, Art and Naomi retired and became “city folk” when they purchased a home in Sanborn.

    The love of music was evident in Naomi’s life. For over 40 years, she and Art sang with Naomi’s sister and brother-in-law, Jackie and Wilmer Van Engen, in the “Bosch-Van Engen” gospel quartet. She was also a member of the Sweet Adelines chorus, a barbershop quartet called the “San Tones”, and shared her beautiful soprano voice with the church choir.

    One of her greatest joys was spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Recently, she was blessed with her first great-great-grandchild and loved to show pictures to anyone and everyone she could.

   Naomi had a passion for the Angel Tree Prison Fellowship Ministry that her women’s guild supported. For many years, she purchased and delivered gifts to prisoner’s children and always said that it was as much a blessing to her as it was to the children. She enjoyed volunteering for Hospice, unaware that someday she would be blessed by their wonderful care and services. She served on the Prairie View Auxiliary and volunteered in the nursing home. She and Art were members of the Christian Motorcycle Association but decided at ages 80, they should probably sell their cycle. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Naomi enjoyed sewing, knitting, crocheting and making anise candy to share with family and friends.

    On August 14, 2023, Naomi passed away peacefully at her home in Sanborn at the age of 99. Left to cherish her memory are her son, Marv (LaVonne) Bosch of Des Moines, IA; daughters, Donna (Mark) Koerselman of Sheldon, IA and Deanne Gibson of Sioux City, IA; eight grandchildren: Brad (Kelli) Bosch of Ankeny, IA, Heather (Chad) Davis of Ankeny, IA, Bryan Bosch of Des Moines, IA, Kristi (Kevin) Maloney of Sioux City, IA, Kyle (Lori) Koerselman of Sherburn, MN, Kevin (Lisa) Koerselman of Sanborn, IA, Nicole (Calvin) Stitt of St. Augustine, FL and Hillary (Daniel) Duncan of Sioux City, IA; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sister and best friend, Jackie Van Engen of Sanborn, IA; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

    Preceding her in death were her husband of 69 years, Art; her parents, Bill and Dena De Roos; her husband’s parents, Peter and Pearl Bosch; son-in-law, Allan Gibson; brother-in-law, Wilmer Van Engen; brothers-in-law and their wives: John (Jeanette) Bosch and Gerald (Artella) Bosch; three sisters-in-law and their husbands: Caroline Dummett-Clemens (Donald Dummett) (Floyd Clemens); Fanny (Jake) Haagsma; and Esther (Orville) Kempers; other relatives and friends