Mrs. Wietske Vergeer Odé of Houston and Austin died peacefully on April 4, 2011. She was born May 2, 1920 in Hattem, the Netherlands, daughter of Huig Vergeer and Theodora Henriette Londo. She was predeceased by her husband Helmer Odé and is survived by her three children, Carla Odé, Victoria, B.C., Connie Odé and Mary Humphrey, Taos, New Mexico, and Jan Odé and his wife Barbara Odé and their three children, Kristen and Paul Cox, Andrew and Bradley, Austin, her sister Els Vergeer and brothers Ben Vergeer and Dick and Nicky Vergeer, the Netherlands.
She was a Registered Nurse and worked in Arnhem and The Hague, the Netherlands prior to her marriage. Following her marriage, she and her husband immigrated to Bellaire, Texas where Helmer worked for Shell Oil and they raised their family.
Wietske was very active in her community and spent many years in Houston with the San Jacinto Girl Scouts leading scout troops and teaching canoeing and sailing. She also taught swimming for The Red Cross and participated in the American Field Service Program hosting foreign students at school and at home.
She and her husband were ardent environmentalists since the early days when they met in Holland as members of the NJN, a Dutch youth organization that promotes the study of nature. On moving to Texas, they became members of the Houston Outdoor Nature Club, the Sierra Club and the Houston Conchology Society. Upon her husband’s retirement, they travelled extensively, often visiting nature sanctuaries around the world.
After they retired to Austin, they were keen members of the Austin Stamp Club and Wietske became involved with Seniornet, the international community of computer-using seniors.

The family would like to extend their grateful appreciation to all of the staff of The Summit at Westlake and Heart to Heart Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club. A celebration of her life will be announced later.