Nienke Roukema Batterink was born in Hamilton, Ontario on February 7, 1958, the second of Job and Didy Roukema’s seven children. She finished elementary and high school in Hamilton, then left for Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan where she earned a degree in psychology. She married Len Batterink in 1979 and they would live in Ontario, on Vancouver Island and in central Alberta while Len served in the ministry. In spite of repeated moves and the busyness of raising four children, Nienke also had a productive career as an RN, specializing first in obstetrical nursing, then in rural nursing and long-term care. In her free time, she enjoyed camping, crime fiction, genealogy, quilting, and also tried her hand at watercolor.
Soon after retirement, Nienke noticed symptoms of SCA6, a rare degenerative disease that affects the nervous system and causes poor balance and incoordination. She later suffered from Parkinson’s Disease as well. Eventually, the two conditions left her housebound with very limited mobility. After suffering a fractured hip from a fall, she went into hospice care. On November 2, 2024, she passed away, surrounded by the family she loved so dearly.
Nienke is survived by Len, her husband of forty-five years, and by her children, their partners and their children: Marie and Matthew Klaponski (Jacob, Sarah, Hannah, Andrew, Dominic and Elizabeth); Jennifer and Bryon Dolan (Caleb, Lauren and Alice); Josh Batterink and Tara Cessford (Rowen); Kristin and Bryce Early.
She is also survived by her mother, Diderica Roukema, and by six siblings: Ruby, Ray, Henry, Cliff, Trish, and Heather, along with their partners and children.
Nienke was a woman of deep faith, and she faced her illness and passing with great courage. At times she was the strongest person in the room. She heard the voice of the One who said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”