Obituary of Johanna Clara Broersma

JOHANNA CLARA BROERSMA Johanna Clara Broersma “Jo”, peacefully passed away on December 2, 2021. She was 92 years old. She was born at home in Lodgepole South Dakota to William and Jessie Beld. She was the eldest of 9 children. The family later moved to Sumas Washington where she met and married Julian Broersma. They eventually moved to the Washougal area in the Spring of 1956. Together they had 6 children. Johanna was a very hard worker and loved to cook. Shortly after she and Julian were married, she started baking cakes, making a cake every day, or many a week for family and friends that would come over to visit. In 1972 she was managing a café at a bowling alley in Vancouver when the big tornado hit and demolished the entire building. That was when she ventured out on her own and opened her own restaurant downtown Washougal. She was the proud owner of “Jo’s Restaurant” for many years. She also owned many other restaurants throughout Washington and Oregon throughout her life. She was best known for her famous Cinnamon Rolls, Bread Pudding, and delicious daily specials she always made from scratch. Many years at Thanksgiving she would go into the restaurant in the middle of the night and cook up to 12 Turkeys with all the trimmings,and donate all the meals to the underprivileged families. The Knights of Columbus would come pick up the meals and deliver them to the family’s homes. She loved helping people and considered it a privilege that she could help. She was very well known and loved by all her employees and customers. She had a gift of cooking, welcoming all her customers and making everyone feel special. She lived a fulfilling life as a mother, grandmother and friend to so many. She is survived by her 6 children, Linda Story, Ron Broersma, Larry Broersma, Charlene Crum and her husband Randy, Marsha Moore and her husband Doug, and Reneé Grace and her husband John. She is also survived by several of her siblings, and numerous grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Johanna will be greatly missed for her nurturing and caring nature, her generosity, kindness, sense of humor and her true concern for others. Her legacy will live on through the hearts of her children. A private memorial will be at a later date.