VEENKANT, Jessie L. Allegan, MI, died Monday, June 23, 2003 in Saginaw, MI. Mrs. Veenkant was born August 21, 1919 in Chicago, IL, the daughter of Robert and Cora (Piggott) Saunders. She was a member of the Allegan First Congregational Church, where she had taught Sunday School for 30 years. She was the 1995 Michigan Mother of the Year and was the presiding officer of Womens' Fellowship at the Allegan Rebekah Lodge. She received her B.A. from Northwestern Univ. and her Master's Degree from Western MI Univ. She had taught school for more than 19 years, teaching in the Allegan Jr. High from 1941-1943, Hudson Corners one-room schoolhouse from 1952-1954 and Northward Elementary School until her retirement in 1979. Surviving are three children and their spouses, Raymond and Patricia Veenkant of Alaska, Allen and Carol Veenkant of Freeland, and Corinne and Ron Green of Minnesota; 11 grandchildren, Tim, Pam, Trevor, Marisa, Anne, Sean, Tracy, Danette, Brent, Nathan and Michelle; 6 great grandchildren, Lainey Jo, Braden, Cody, Lexi, Brendon and Austin; 1 brother-in-law, Ralph Veenkant of Allegan; 1 nephew and 1 niece and their families, Jim and Jeanette Veenkant of Allegan and Darlene and Ralph Hollander of Fennville. She was preceded in death by her husband, Boyd. Graveside services will be held Tuesday, July 1, at 9:30 a.m. at Oakwood Cemetery, Allegan. Memorial services will follow at the First Congregational Church at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Pastor Barry Lucas officiating. Contributions may be made to the Church.