In the fall of 1942, he and Johanna Myrtle Van Roekel became engaged to be married. In December of that year, Uncle Sam called Ervin to serve his country overseas during World War II. Ervin served as an airplane sheet metal worker with U.S.Army in Rhineland, Normandy, Northern France and Central Europe and was awarded 4 Bronze Stars. They continued their relationship by letter until he returned home on September 5, 1945. They married one month later, on October 6, 1945, at the home of her parents, John and Blanche (Witzenburg) Van Roekel near Otley, Iowa. The First Reformed Church of Pella became their place of worship.
They made their home on a farm one-fourth mile east of Otley and to this union two children were born, Janice Beth and Verlan Gene. Ervin enjoyed farming the 80 acres, raising corn, beans, oats and hay. Baby chicks came every spring and they grew to be laying hens. He kept busy farrowing to finishing hogs year around and one cow kept the family in milk. Ervin had the skill to make and repair equipment with tools from his shop and if a toy got broken, 'daddy can fix it'. In his 'spare time', he would make horses and other farm items out of scraps around the farm. He loved playing with his grandson and step-great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Ervin and Johanna had been blessed with many years of being together and when their health began to fail in November/December 2004, they became residents at Jefferson Place in Pella. Their family and friends helped them celebrate many wedding anniversaries together and their 60th was observed in October, 2005. Johanna passed away on December 21, 2007. Ervin continued to make Jefferson Place his home, enjoying the activities with other residents and staff. He remained a member of the First Reformed Church in Pella until the time of his death. Ervin went to be with the Lord on October 9, 2012, at Jefferson Place in Pella at the advanced age of 95 years.
Those who will cherish his memory are his two children and their spouses: Janice and Walter D. Graham, Verlan and Connie Mathes all of Pella; one grandson, Darvin Graham and his wife, Allison of Toledo, Iowa; and three step-grandsons: Jeff, Paul and Tim Prangler and their families. Of his original family, Ervin leaves two sisters: Evelyn (Arie) Beyer and Edith and her husband, Irvin Huyser all of Pella; and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Bernie J. and Tanna Mae Van Roekel also of Pella. He was preceded in death by his wife, Johanna; his parents, John N. and Jeannette Mathes; his siblings and spouses: Valentine and Jennie Mathes, Sarah Mathes, William and Beulah Mathes, Agnes Mathes, Esther and Herman Slykhuis, Mable and Edward De Vries, Arie Beyer, Harold and Pauline Mathes; his parents-in-law, John and Blanche Van Roekel; and the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Henrietta (Van Roekel) and Harold Van Zante, Jenella (Van Roekel) and Marion Verros, Ada (Van Roekel) and Arie Beyer.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, October 12, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.
First Reformed Church, Pella, Iowa
Interment will follow in the Graceland Cemetery at Pella, Iowa with military rites.
Tana Mae Van Roekel was born August 9, 1924, to Hubert and Dora (Van Ommen) Van Gilst, at their home south of Pella. She passed away Monday, June 27, 2016, with her family by her side.
Tana graduated from Pella Community High School with the class of 1941, with a "Normal Training Teaching Certificate." She was a member of Third Reformed Church in Pella, where she made profession of faith and attended the rest of her life. She taught Sunday School and family night classes for many years and was active in the women’s ministries.
Tana met Bernie Van Roekel at church and they married on June 12, 1946, at her parent’s home six miles south of Pella. To this union they were blessed with four children: Kenneth, Marlene, Harley and Donna. Tana worked for the overall factory for a year, taught rural school for four years, and then became a homemaker and partner with Bernie on the farm. Tana enjoyed doing handiwork, especially counted cross stitch and crocheting. It was always a special pleasure to have her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren spend time at her home. She traveled with family and friends to many areas of the country and overseas.
Tana’s family: Loving husband Bernie; Kenneth and Linda Van Roekel, Reeds Spring, Missouri, Shawn Van Roekel; Marlene and Ron Steenhoek, Pella, Iowa, Vicki and Brent Steenhoek, Sierra, Erika, Connor, Jeffrey and Kristin Steenhoek, Ethan, Cael; Harley and Kathe Van Roekel, Otley, Iowa, Jason and Rian Van Roekel, Hailey, Derek, Braden, Tomi and Keith Nelson, Lucas, Collin, Paityn; Donna and Fred Bahls, Clive, Iowa, Christopher and Sheena Bahls, Lia Bahls
Tana is also survived by two sisters: Dorothy Vander Linden of Pella, and Bernice Dodge of St. Louis, Missouri.
Those preceding Tana in death are her parents, sister Wilma Kaldenberg, and grandson Shawn Van Roekel.
[Garden Chapel Funeral Home web site]
Bernie J. Van Roekel was born March 15, 1923, to John and Blanche (Witzenburg) Van Roekel, at his parent’s home east of Otley. He lived in that area until he retired and moved to Pella in 1995. He passed away February 1, 2018, with his family by his side.
Bernie attended Richland School east of Otley. After 8th grade, he started farming with his father, and continued helping on the farm even after he moved to Pella.
He was baptized in Bethel Country Church then attended Otley Reformed Church with his parents and later became a member of Third Reformed Church in Pella, where he made profession of faith. He served as a deacon and was a Hospice volunteer.
Bernie met Tana Van Gilst at church and they married on June 12, 1946, at her parent’s home six miles south of Pella. To this union they were blessed with four children: Kenneth, Marlene, Harley and Donna. Bernie and Tana traveled with family and friends to many areas in our country and overseas. They loved spending time with all their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bernie will be remembered as being strong, hardworking, caring and helpful.
Bernie will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Bernie’s family: Kenneth and Linda Van Roekel, Branson West, Missouri; Shawn Van Roekel, Marlene and Ron Steenhoek, Pella, Iowa; Vicki and Brent Steenhoek, Sierra, Erika, Connor; Jeffrey and Kristin Steenhoek, Ethan, Cael; Harley and Kathe Van Roekel, Pella, Iowa, Jason and Rian Van Roekel, Hailey, Derek, Braden; Tomi and Keith Nelson, Lucas, Collin, Paityn; Donna and Fred Bahls, Clive, Iowa; Christopher and Sheena Bahls, Kaiden Bahls, Lia Bahls
Those preceding Bernie in death are his wife Tana, his parents Blanche and John Van Roekel, grandson Shawn Van Roekel, and his sisters: Henrietta Van Zante, Ada Beyer, Jenella Verros, and Johanna Mathes.
[Garden Chapel Funeral Home web site]