Tena was born in Iowa as the sixth child of immigrant parents from The Netherlands. Her earliest memories were of a farm home on 320 acres. Tena described her early life this way: “My father farmed with horse-powered machinery, a strong back, three sons, three daughters, and a hard-working wife who loved him and their life together.”
Tena’s “Papa” was killed instantly in a farm accident in 1934 when she was only ten years old. Tena states in her memoirs. “When the funeral was over, we all squared our shoulders, dried our tears, and faced life. My strong Mama carried on with the farming and the long-range plans for the family.”
Tena attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, graduating with a teaching degree. In 1943, She began teaching at Lansing Christian Elementary School in Illinois. She also pursued her musical talents at the Chicago School of Music, where she sang with an elite performance group.
Tena met her future husband, Bart Huizenga, on the church steps in Lansing, Illinois. Married in June, 1946, they began ministry together in 1947, working as a team to serve churches in Iowa, Wisconsin, California, New Mexico, and Washington. The family grew along with the churches to include Judith, Ryan, Kathleen, Bartel, Jonathan, and David. With God’s help, Tena used love and music as major ingredients to knit them all together. In retirement, Tena and Bart moved back to Visalia where they had started the Visalia Christian Reformed Church in 1965.
Tena was the manager of her family’s home, an imagination encourager, an outstanding musician, a teacher, an artist, an understanding authority, and a baker of exquisite apple pies. She was a woman who displayed wisdom laced with humor.
Tena is survived by her six children, 26 grandchildren, and 57 great grandchildren. Also celebrating her move to heaven are five sisters-in-law and 70+ cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Bart, her brothers and sisters, and her parents. Memorial gifts are welcome to Resonate Global Mission (resonateglobalmission.org) for North America Church planting.
Memorial Service: 10:30 am (Pacific Daylight Time) at Visalia Christian Reformed Church with luncheon following. The service will be live-streamed on YouTube. (Enter: Visalia Christian Reformed Church)
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.millerchapel.com for the Huizenga family.
