Neal and Dena were married in the parsonage of the First Reformed Church by Rev. Fred Lubbers. With only their parents present.
VAN ROEKEL, NEAL AND DENA (SNELLER)
Neal Van Roekel was the first child born to Henry C. & Allie (Vander Ploeg) Van Roekel on January 7, 1905 at the farm located 4 1/2 miles west of SiouxCenter. Dena Sneller was born on April 9, 1905 to Henry & Dena (Koerselman) Sneller. They were married in the parsonage of the First Reformed Church by the Rev. Fred Lubbers on February 15, 1928 with only the parents of the couple in attendance.
Neal attended rural school for seven years and then had to stay home and help with the farm work. When he was 15 years old his father bought their first car and Neal got to drive it and felt pretty proud.
After their marriage Neal and Dena began farming, renting a 60-acre farm two miles west of Sioux Center, where they lived for one year. They then moved further west and farmed for 9 years near Highland, then they rented 160 acres 3 miles east of Sioux Center where they lived for 19 years. In the early 1930's sows were sold for $1.85 a hundred and times ware very hard. During those hard years they also experienced many severe dust storms. Electricity came to the farm in the late 1940's.
There ware the good times also. Working closely with the neighbors during oat harvesting time, followed by a "threshers picnic" marked the end of the summer harvest time. Of course, there always were the annual school picnics that nobody wanted to miss.
Neal Van Roekel Family, about 1935 L-R: Del-
mar (3 Dec. 27 was 2), Neal, Alvina (6 Dec. 29
was 5), Dena, Gerald (1 yr. March), Bernice
(4 Oct. 19 was 3) Van Roekel
In 1957 Neal and Dena built a new house in Sioux Center where they lived for 17 years. They then sold that house and bought another one at the south end of Sioux Center where they still reside.
Neal served on the consistory of the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center, as well as on the Board of the Co-op Creamery. After moving to town he was employed by the Community School as school bus supervisor, he operated the city street sweeper, and also drove a livestock and grain truck for local truckers. The first vacation they took was when they went to Denver, Colorado to get their daughter who had been working there.
The following children ware born to Neal and Dena:
1. Alvina, born Dec. 29, 1928 at Sioux Center. She married Donald Van Gorp on August 29, 1950 at the Little Brown Church at Nashua, Iowa. They have five children and raside at rural Clarkfield, Minnesota.
2. Bernice was born October 19, 1930 at Ireton, IA. She married James Moss on July 18, 1951 at Sioux Center, and farm east of Sioux Center. They have four children.
3. Delmar was born December 27, 1931 at Ireton, and at the age of 6 years he became ill with scarlet fever, was sick for less than a week, and passed away on Feb. 1, 1937. They ware quarantined and the funeral service was held the following day outside the farm home on a cold winter day.
4. Gerald was born March 5, 1934 at Ireton. He married Darlene Doornink on June 28, 1955 at Sioux Center. They farm north of Carmel and have five children.
Neal and Dena presently have three children, 14 grandchildren and 29 great grandchildren.
by Ellen Van Roekel
Between 10th St. & 1st E-W roads, row 18 east of west entry road.
Neal 1905-2001 Dena 1905-1999:
MRS. NEAL (DENA) VAN ROEKEL
Born: April 9,1905, Sioux Center, Iowa
Died: February 21, 1993, Sioux Center, Iowa
Services at the First Reformed Church, Sioux Center, Iowa at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, February 23, 1993. Burial in the Memory Gardens Cemetery, Sioux Center, Iowa on Tuesday, February 23, 1993. Arrangements by Vander Ploeg's
Mrs. Neal Van Roekel (nee Dena Sneller) passed away Sunday afternoon in Sioux Center, Iowa at the age of eighty-seven years. On February 15, 1928, in Sioux Center, she was united in marriage to Neal Van Roekel, who now survives. They farmed in the Sioux Center area until 1957 when they retired and moved into town.
She is survived by three children: Alvina, Mrs. Don Van Gorp, of Clarkfield, Minnesota; Bernice, Mrs. James Moss, of Sioux Center, Iowa; and Gerald and his wife, Darlene, of Rock Valley, Iowa; fourteen grandchildren; thirty-two great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild. She s also survived by three sisters and two brothers: Jennie, Mrs. Orin Franke, of Ireton, Iowa; Grace De Boer of Sioux Center, Iowa; William H. Sneller of Sioux Center, Iowa; Agnes Sneer of Le Mars, Iowa; and Raymond Sneller of Parker, South Dakota.
She was preceded in death by one son, Delmer, on February 1, 1938; three great-grandchildren;three brothers: Ed, Gerrit, and Henry; and three sisters: Jennie, Bertha Cleveringa, and Gertrude Statema.
Vander Ploeg's Funeral Home, Sioux Center.
NEAL H. VAN ROEKEL
Born: January 7, 1905; Sioux Center, Iowa
Passed Away: October 7, 2001; Sioux Center, Iowa
Age: 96 years, 9 months
Funeral Service: Tuesday; October 9,2001, First Reformed Church, Sioux Center, Iowa Interment: Memory Gardens Cemetery, Sioux Center. Iowa
Neal was the son of Henry C. and Allie (Vander Ploeg) Van Roekel. He was raised in rural Sioux Center. On February 15, 1928, he married Dena Sneller at Sioux Center. They farmed at Sioux Center, moving into town in 1957. Neal was a school bus driver for seventeen years and for a few years, he was employed by the City of Sioux Center.
Mrs. Van Roekel passed away February 21, 1993, in Sioux Center. In February of 2000, he became a resident of the Sioux Center Community Health Center. Mr. Van Roekel was a lifelong member of the First Reformed Church, where he had served on the consistory as a deacon. He enjoyed music, and he and his wife liked to travel. Family devotions were very important to him.
Survivors include his two daughters and their husbands, Alvina and Donald Van Gorp of Clarkfield, Minnesota and Bernice and James Moss of Sioux Center; a son and his wife, Gerald and Darlene Van Roekel of Sioux Center; fourteen grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren; and one brother and four sisters, Tena Sneller, Henry Van Roekel, Cynthia Van Regenmorter, Harriet Meendering, and Ellen Van Roekel, all of Sioux Center.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Delmar, in 1938; three great-grandchildren; three brothers, Garret, Tony and John Van Roekel; and three sisters, Fannie Van Roekel, in 1916, Fannie Sneller, and Carrie Franken.
Oolman Funeral Home, Orange City.
Delmer Van Roekel was born December 27, 1931 at Ireton, Iowa. When he was 6 years old he became ill with scarlet fever. Delmer was sick for less than a week and passed away on February 1, 1937. His family was quarantined and the funeral service was held the following day outside the farm home on a cold winter day.
James Moss
June 8, 1930 - August 19, 2016
James L. Moss, 86, of Sioux Center, IA, died Friday, Aug 19, 2016, at Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull, Ia. A visitation will be held on Monday August 22, 2016 from 4-8PM, with the family present from 5-7PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A prayer service for family and friends will be held on Tuesday August 23, 2016 at 2:00PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday August 23, 2016 at 3:30 PM at the Free Grace Reformed Church of Middleburg with Rev. Stephen Breen officiating.
The Moss family prefers memorials to Middleburg Free Grace Reformed Church Memorial Fund.
James L. Moss was born on June 8, 1930 on a farm south of Rock Valley, IA to Marion and Henrietta (Westra) Moss. He grew up on the family farm South of Boyden, IA. As a boy he attended country school near Middleburg, IA and graduated from Newkirk High School.
On July 18, 1951 he was united in marriage to Bernice Van Roekel in Sioux Center, IA. He entered the U.S Army in Feb. 1952, serving two years in Germany during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in Feb. 1954. He then returned home where the couple farmed east of Middleburg most of his life. He was a devoted farmer who loved the land.
The couple retired to Sioux Center in 1990. In Jan. 2014 he moved to Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull, Ia. He was a member of the Free Grace Reformed Church of Middleburg where he served on the consistory and as a Sunday School and catechism teacher for many years. He also served on the board of directors for the Farmers Coop Association of Boyden. He enjoyed farming, singing in the choir and fishing. He will be remembered for always being willing to help his children at any time. He also enjoyed hearing about his grandchildren’s activities.
Surviving is his wife of 65 years, four children; Janice and Wayne Davelaar of Rock Valley, IA, Wanda and Gawin Kooima of Sioux Center, IA, Diane and Milton Schiebout of Orange City, IA and Kevin and Betty Moss of Boyden, IA, 14 Grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. Sisters and brother-in-law: Marilyn and Gerald Bruxvoort of Orange City, Joan and Herlon Vander Schaaf of Sioux Center; and numerous nieces and nephews. Brothers in law and sisters in law, Don and Alvina Van Gorp, Gerald and Darlene Van Roekel.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents; Grandchildren, Brent and Scott Davelaar, brothers and sisters-in-law: Albert and Aileen Moss, Peter and Darlene Moss; sister and brother-in-law, Charlene and Rodney Vanden Brink, sister and brother-in-law, Agnes and Marion Wielenga, and brother and sister-in-law Eugene and Marla Moss.
Bernice H. Moss
October 19, 1930 - November 27, 2016
Bernice H. Moss, 86, of Sioux Center, IA, died Sunday, November 27, 2016, at Sioux Center Health in Sioux Center, IA. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 4:00 - 8:00PM, with the family present from 5:00 - 7:00PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.
Bernice Moss was born October 19, 1930 west of Sioux Center to Neal and Dena (Sneller) Van Roekel. She attended country school and graduated from Sioux Center high school. On July 18, 1951 she was united in marriage to James L. Moss. The couple farmed together east of Middleburg most of their lives. In 1990 they retired to Sioux Center. In March of 2014 Bernice moved to Crown Pointe Assisted Living. Her husband Jim passed away on August 19, 2016.
She was a member of Free Grace Reformed Church of Middleburg where she was a member of Ladies Circle and she provided many lunches for Brotherhood and Consistory. Besides being a farmer’s wife and homemaker, she enjoyed listening to the Gaithers on television. She enjoyed taking pictures and putting them in her many photo albums. Bernice also loved having her children and grandchildren stop in. She was known for her chocolate Rice Krispie Bars, Root Beer Floats and always having a supply of skittles and starbursts for her grandkids when they came. Bernice was a kind woman who never spoke an unkind word about or to anyone. She will be greatly missed.
Bernice is survived by her four children; Janice and Wayne Davelaar of Rock Valley, IA, Wanda and Gawin Kooima of Sioux Center, IA, Diane and Milton Schiebout of Orange City, IA and Kevin and Betty Moss of Boyden, IA, 14 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren; sister and brother-in-law, Alvina and Don Van Gorp; brother and sister-in-law, Gerald and Darlene Van Roekel; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Marilyn and Gerald Bruxvoort and Joan and Herlon Vander Schaaf; and numerous nephews and nieces.
In addition to her husband, James Moss, she was preceded in death by her parents, Neal and Dena Van Roekel; grandchildren, Brent and Scott Davelaar; brother, Delmar Van Roekel; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Agnes and Marion Wielenga, Peter and Darlene Moss, Albert and Aileen Moss, Eugene and Marla Moss and Charlene and Rodney Vanden Brink.
Gerald and Darlene Van Roekel - 35th
Anniversary
VAN ROEKEL, GERALD AND DARLENE (DOORNINK)
Gerald Van Roekel - the son of Neal and Dena Sneller Van Roekel was born March 5, 1934. He had 2 sisters and a brother to welcome and care for him. They lived on a farm 9 miles west of Sioux Center. His sisters, Alvina and Berniece, and a brother Delmar kept their parents very busy. When Gerald was four years old the family was quarantined with scarlet fever. Delmar became very ill and passed away. Grandma Sneller stayed with the children while the parents attended the grave side services. The following year (1939) the family moved to a farm 3 miles east of Sioux Center owned by Beert Rozeboom. Gerald attended school in West Branch No. 1 through the eighth grade. He then attended Sioux Center High School and graduated in 1951.
Darlene Doornink was born to Gerrit and Clara VanderZwaag Doornink on Jan. 8, 1934. ,at that time they were living on a farm 2 miles west of Sioux Center. She had one younger brother, Kenneth. She attended country school at West Branch No. 2, and later went to high school at Sioux Center. In 1951 these two young people met after crossing paths many times. They ware in the same grade in school. They both attended the First Reformed Church in Sioux Center and were members of Christian Endeavor for four years.
The entire family with both Grandpa and Grandma Doornink and Grandpa end Grandma
Van Roekel attending Brittany Van Roekel's - daughter of Brad and Rev Van Roekel - baptism.
Darlene went to Northwestern College for 2 years and then taught school for two years. During this time Gerald was farming with his Dad. In 1955 they were married and moved to a farm owned by her father. It was located one and one fourths mile north of Carmel.
They soon became a busy family. Their first daughter was named Debra and she now lives in Luverne, Mn. and is married to Merlin Wynia. They have 3 children. The next son Jerry, is married to Pam Van Holland and they are living 1 mile north of Carmel. They have a busy family of 4 boys. Next a little girl Shera arrived who has grown and is married to Robert Pender. They are living in Montivedeo, Mn. with their two daughters. Bradley was the fourth one to bless their home and is now living in England with his wife Beverly Barthel and their little daughter. Last but not least to come into this home was Rachel. She is attending U.S.D. at Vermillion.
While the family was growing up they appreciated very much to have Carmel Church only a short distance from their home. They were kept busy there with many activities and also worshipping there together.
by Gerald Van Roekel