PELLA - Maggie Van Roekel, 97, of Pella and formerly of Oskaloosa, died Tuesday, April 17, at Pella Regional Health Center.
Her funeral service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, the Rev. Don DeGlopper officiating. Burial: Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. Visiting hours begin 4 p.m. Thursday and continue Friday at Bates Funeral Chapel, with family present 6-8 p.m. Friday. A family prayer service will be 12:45 p.m. Saturday in the church fellowship hall. Memorials: Children's Department, Central Reformed Church.
Maggie Van Roekel was born June 18, 1903, in Marion County, to Gerrit and Maggie Klein Van Ommen. On Nov. 24, 1920, she married Louis O. Van Roekel in Marion County. They farmed for many years in Marion and Mahaska counties. Louis died Aug. 13, 1959.
She then became custodian at Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, and also had worked in housekeeping at William Penn College before retiring at age 75. She was a member of Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, and had taught Sunday school, and was active in Ladies Aid at the church. She moved to Pella in 1993.
She is survived by three sons and spouses: Ralph and Lillian Van Roekel of Pella, Glen and Vera Van Roekel of Ottumwa, and Darrel and JoAnn Van Roekel of Pea Ridge, Ark.; two daughters and spouses: Joyce and Richard Van Weelden of Oskaloosa, Mildred and Asher Schanck Jr. of Kansas City, Mo.; 19 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; nine step-great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; five sisters: Dora Lamers of Oskaloosa, Nellie Ver Beek of Rose Hill, Irene (and Lewis) Van Mersbergen of Oskaloosa, Henrietta (and Pete) Swank of Newton, and Lillian Van Arkel of Oskaloosa; and a sister-in-law, Ethel Van Ommen of Eddyville.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; an infant son; a daughter-in-law, Walleta Van Roekel; a sister, Pearl Kietzman; seven brothers: Ben, Dick, Walter, John, Henry, Garry and Tunis Van Ommen; four brothers-in-law: Ray Lamers, Martin Ver Beek, Ralph Van Arkel and Carl Kietzman Jr.; and a granddaughter-in-law, Kay Van Roekel.
The Oskaloosa Herald, April 18, 2001
