Sarah Jess Dykstra

1960-2022

Sarah Jess Dykstra, born Mary Kathleen Krolnik, was born on Aug. 8, 1960. She passed away peacefully on Sept. 11, 2022 at 8:54 p.m. at Care Partners Assisted Living in Weston, Wis. She was 62 years old, and had fought for nearly ten years through earlyonset Alzheimer’s disease. Sarah was born in Milwaukee, to Max and Marie Krolnik (her mother’s maiden name was Kathrein). At a young age her family moved to Rib Lake and purchased a house by the lake, where she lived for most of her childhood. Sarah attended Rib Lake High School. Her active life began with medical studies in Eau Claire before traveling to study and work in Japan. During these travels she met her future husband, David Dykstra at the Bangkok International Airport.

Sarah and David Dykstra eventually had four children together. They moved many times for the benefit of their children. This included briefly in Saudi Arabia. States where they lived included Washington, Arizona, and primarily California. In 2004 they purchased a house in Santa Rosa, which is in Sonoma County, Calif. They later divorced, at which time the family had moved to San Jose, Calif. While continuing to raise four children, Sarah went back to school to pursue her passion of healing others. She received three Associate Degrees from Santa Rosa Junior College with honors. She then attended Five Branches University, in San Jose, Calif., where she received her Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She started her own business successfully, before she began to exhibit signs of early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Sarah Dykstra was an incredibly loving soul, who would always go out of her way to assist others and would rarely ask for anything in return. Even when she was in the nursing home, she would try to help others whenever she could, and left a positive reputation even in her last years. Her character was rare, and her ability to persevere through difficult times and sacrifice her own needs for others was incredible.

She is survived by her two brothers, Paul Krolnik and Gary Krolnik; and four children, her three daughters, Ursa Dykstra, Aryana Starwater, Karmen Dykstra, and her son, Julian Dykstra.

It was a shock to Sarah’s family to lose her in this way, but she will be remembered for her boundless love, humor and blissful nature.

Funeral arrangements can be obtained by contacting her daughter, Aryana Starwater, at (575) 404-1821 or emailing aryanastarwater@gmail.com.

Paid Obituary 127357