Henny Bos

Henny A. Bos, nee Sloot, age 94, passed away peacefully at her daughter's home in Naples, FL
on January 2, 2025. Beloved wife of the late Gerrit (2006). Loving mother of Margie (Robert) Rysner, Ronald (Linda) Bos, Cindy (Rich) Torpy, Gary (Teresa) Bos and Mary Bos. Mother-in-law of Steve Sluis. Cherished grandmother of 14 and great-grandmother of 14.

Visitation Saturday, February 15, 2025 from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. with a service to celebrate Henny's life to follow at 1:00 p.m. at Colonial Chapel 15525 S. 73rd Ave. (155th/Wheeler Dr. & Harlem) Orland Park, IL. A live-stream of the service will be available. Please visit Henny's obituary at colonialchapel.com to view the live-stream of the service. The link is posted below. Interment private at Chapel Hill Gardens South, Oak Lawn, IL.

Condolences to the family may be sent care of Colonial Chapel, 15525 S. 73rd Ave., Orland
Park, IL 60462 or at colonialchapel.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Breakthrough T1D (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), P.O. Box 5021, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5021 Click here for online donation or ReFrame Ministries (formerly Back to God Ministries International), 1700 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508 Click here for online donation are appreciated.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart...”
Jeremiah 1:5

There was a young girl who heard stories. She witnessed God’s work in the lives of her mother
and father, shaping her life through values, love, hope, courage, and deep faith.

Gezeina was a farm girl born in Holland with little education other than real-life experiences
through hardship and her love for life and nature. This life developed resourcefulness in her
when she needed it most during WWII. The Nazis occupied Holland. Geziena’s husband,
Romke Jon, was discovered to be working the underground and providing safety for Jewish
families and was taken to a concentration camp. Many families stayed in damp, cold hiding
spaces in the home of Gezeina and Romke Jon until they could move them to safety. Romke
Jon took the Bible literally and believed scripture. John 15:13 "No greater love hath a man than
to lay down his life for another." Gezeina followed his lead. Her heart took in all those who
entered their home. But, now hearing the news of her husband, grief and fear gripped her heart.
Life seemed bleak, cold, and very dark as she desperately searched for several hiding places
for her 11 offspring and herself.

Gezeina's love for people inspired the young girl who watched with fear and awe as Gezeina
took risks to help during the most desperate times. She observed deep faith as Gezeina would
rest in hope and prayer. Both gave her peace and the ability to see a better end.

The family prayed fervently without ceasing for protection over Romke Jon. At the end of a year,
the malnourished, white-haired Romke Jon, with no explanation, was physically kicked out of
the concentration camp and told to “Go! Get out of here!” and was thrown on the ground
outside of the sharp barbed wire.

Gezeina's family was blessed and reunited. She nursed her husband back to health with food
she had grown through nurturing the seeds she planted on an empty plot near the railroad
tracks. God answered her prayers as he regained his strength. Life was never easy, but in all
things, she gave praise. She had the gift of laughter as her short, round body would embrace
others and encourage smiles through their woes.

The young girl lived through the perilous war-torn years, experiencing gripping fear, distrust of
many, and a sense of loneliness. While separated from family, she emerged through many
twists and turns as a thankful, grateful, social, outgoing woman. She developed resilience,
determination, and persistence. Her mother and father had a wholesale bakery run out of the
top floor of their home. Her sisters married the bakers. She was amused with someone different
He was a handsome, intelligent, charming fellow. He was the accountant for the bakery. Her
mother would encourage her to bring him tea mid-afternoon. Well, the young lady was
enamored. So was he. Henny meets Gerrit.

They became engaged. With no housing available after the war, with reassurance from their
parents, they immigrated to America. A land full of hope and dreams. With young hearts, they
jumped in with both feet and started a new life in America. They were married 54 years before
Gerrit's passing on September 12, 2006. Their family grew to 5 children, 14 grandchildren, and
14 great-grandchildren. Gerrit worked his way up from mail room boy to Chief Comptroller of
International Harvester. Henny worked several jobs before working as a mail room manager and
retiring from The Back to God Hour Radio Station. As both retired, they enjoyed travel and time
with family and friends. Bible Studies, reading, puzzles, concerts, entertaining others in their
home became favorite pastimes.

God molded the young girl through the love He infused through Gezeina and Romke Jon Sloot.
He changed lives - theirs, yours, mine.

Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Aunt, Friend, Henny Annie Sloot Bos - A Child
of God. January 4, 1930 - January 2, 2025.

Below is a photo tribute celebrating Henny's life.


Below is the live-stream link for the Celebration of Life Service for Henny Bos on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 1:00 P.M. CST.