VAN ROEKEL, JOHN W. AND ALDINE VERMEER
John W. Van Roekel was born May 16,1916 on the farm four miles west and one-half south of Old Town Sioux Center. He attended the country school - part of the time at the Christian School and part of the time at the public country school. The Christian School being open only when there were enough students and patrons to warrant a teacher. He graduated from the eighth grade. After that it was time to work, often hiring out to area farmers or helping at home.
Corn picking by hand was one task he really disliked. One time while picking with three at a wagon, the outside picker got a little carried away and sure enough he got hit in the head with an ear of corn. As if things weren't bad enough.
It was a dark rainy day the eighth of March, 1940 when John and Aldine Vermeer were married by Rev. Brunsting of the First Reformed Church, Sioux Center, Iowa. Aldine was the daughter of Evert Vermeer and Alida (see E. Vermeer story).
L-R Back row: Jerris, Willis; Middle row: Orville, Marlene, Elwin; Front row: John, Aldine,
Harlan
We farmed in the Sioux Center area for a few years and in March, 1955 we moved to a farm near Orange City, Iowa. We lived on that farm for24 years and in 1969 we had a farm sale and moved to Orange City. John drove school bus for 12 years and I worked as a secretary at Northwestern College for 15 years. We are retired now.
One hot windy morning in July of 1952, we ware shocked to hear the cries of the children while we ware in the barn milking, "fire, fire." The four older ones who were sleeping upstairs were awakened by smoke. Elwin kicked the screen out and let Marlene and Willis down as far as he could and John caught them; then he jumped. Harlan didn't wait for anyone, he jumped before John could catch him. I ran around the front of the house and got Orville from the downstairs bedroom. All we saved was the clothes and furniture from the down stairs bedroom.
To this union eight children ware born: (two passed away at birth) The others all graduated from the Maurice-Orange City High School. Only additional education will be noted.
Elwin married Sharon Buckley of Denver. They have two sons. Elwin is a
self-employed electrician in Denver and Sharon works as a bookkeeper.
Harlan married Janice Vande Griend. They have two sons and a daughter and
one grandson. They farm north and west of Orange City and Janice works at
K-Products in Orange City.
Marlene married Robert De Geest. They have a son and a daughter. They live in Spokane, WA where Bob manages a tire retail store and Marlene works for Eastern Washington Medicare Center, as a computer operator.
Leroy and Leila, twins, were born very premature and lived only a few hours.
Willis married Janice Westley of Pipestone, MN. Willis graduated from Iowa State College at Ames, IA; and then served two years in the army. They have twins, a son and a daughter. They live in Pipestone, MN where Willis owns and operates the Pipestone Vault and Monument Co. and Janice works part-time as a bookkeeper.
Orville married Jeanne Dykstra of Hospers, IA. Orville served four years in the Air Force, graduated from Northwest Technical College, Sheldon, IA as an electrician. They have two daughters and a son. They live in Hospers, IA where Orville is a self-employed electrician, and Jeanne works parttime as an L.P.N. in the Sheldon Hospital.
Jerris married Tamra Oolrich of Mankato, MN. He graduated from Northwestern College, Orange City, IA and attended the University of Nebraska one Year. Tamra graduated from Mankato State, Mankato, MN and attended the University of Nebraska one year. They are presently living and teaching in Boulder, CO. He as teacher and basketball coach and she as a third grade teacher.
We have twelve grandchildren, three of whom are married and we have one great grandson.
by Aldine (Vermeer) Van Roekel
John H. Van Roekel
May 16, 1916 - February 28, 1996
INTERMENT SERVICE: Friday - March 1, 1996, Memory Gardens Cemetery, Sioux Center, Iowa. MEMORIAL SERVICE, Friday - March 1, 1996 2:00 PM, First Reformed Church, Orange City, Iowa John H. Van Roekel, 79 of Orange City, died Wednesday. February 28, 1996 at the Sioux Center Community Hospital in Sioux Center, IA.
He was born to Henry C. and Allie (Vander Ploeg) Van Roekel on May 16, 1916 on the farm near Sioux Center. On March 8, 1940, John married Aldine Vermeer in Sioux Center. They farmed for many years. John drove school bus after moving to town in 1969. He was a member of the First Reformed Church of Orange City and the Sioux Center Produce Board of Directors. John enjoyed horses especially harness racing.
Survivors include: his wife: five sons and one daughter & their spouses: Elwin & Sharon of Denver, CO. Harlan & Janice of Orange City, Marlene and Robert De Geest of Spokane, WA, Willis & Janice of Pipestone, MN, Orville & Jeanne of Hospers. Jerris & Tamra of Boulder, CO; 12 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren; three brothers: Neal, Garret & Henry of Sioux Center; six sisters: Tena Sneller, Carrie Franken of Sioux Center Fannie Sneller of Clarksfield, MN., Cynthia Van Regenmorter, Harriet Meendering, & Ellen of Sioux Center.
He was preceded in death by his parents, twins (Leroy & Leila), sister and brother (Tony).
Memorial Funeral Home, Sioux Center, IA.
ALDINE VAN ROEKEL
September 6, 1919 - December 29, 2008
Mrs. Aldine Van Roekel, age 89, of Orange City, Iowa, passed away on Monday, December 29, 2008, at the Orange City Area Health System Hospital. There will be a prayer service on Friday, January 2, at 10:00am, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City, followed by a graveside service at 10:45am at the Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center, Iowa, followed by a memorial service at 11:30am, at the First Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. Edward Suffern and the Rev. David Ter Beest will officiate. Visitation will be after 4:00pm on Thursday, with the family present from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, at the funeral home.
Aldine was born on September 6, 1919, at Sioux Center, the daughter of Ed E. and Alida (Borgman) Vermeer. She was raised at Sioux Center, where she attended a country school and graduated from the Sioux Center High School. She was also a student at a business college in Sioux City, Iowa, for a year.
On March 8, 1940, she married John H. Van Roekel at Sioux Center. They farmed west of Orange City for many years, where she was a homemaker. She also served as a secretary at Northwestern College in Orange City. In 1969, they moved into Orange City. John passed away on February 28, 1996, in Sioux Center.
Later, Mrs. Van Roekel became a resident of the Pioneer Memorial Home and more recently, she transferred to the Heritage House Nursing Home, both in Orange City. She was a member of the First Reformed Church, where she was very active in the women's organizations, holding all offices, including chairwoman, over the years. She also served as a Sunday school teacher. She enjoyed music, reading, and playing games, such as scrabble and card games.
Survivors include a daughter-in-law, Sharon Van Roekel, of Denver, Colorado; a son and his wife, Harlan and Janice Van Roekel, of Orange City; a daughter, Marlene De Geest, of Spokane, Washington; three sons and their wives, Willis and Janice Van Roekel, of Pipestone, Minnesota; Orville and Jeanne Van Roekel, of Hospers, Iowa; and Jerris and Tamra Van Roekel, of Berthoud, Colorado; twelve grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren; and four sisters and three brotherss, Edna Van Roekel, of Fulda, Minnesota; Loyd Vermeer, of Sioux Center; Cynthia Kaskey, of Aurelia, Iowa; Elnor Niffinegger, of Lexington, Kentucky; Wallace Vermeer and Ruth Bonnema, both of Orange City; and Wayne Vermeer, of Clearwater, Florida.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a twin son and daughter, Leroy and Leila; a son, Elwin; a son-in-law, Bob De Geest; a great-grandson, Tony; two sisters, Hester Black and Mildred Schut; and a brother, Irwin Vermeer.
Oolman Funeral Home, Orange City, IA.