VAN ROEKEL, ALBERT G. AND JEZIENA "CENA" (DOORNWAARD)
(Doornwaard) and Albert G. Van Roekel
Albert G. Van Roekel was born at Sioux Center on October 17, 1895, to Geurt and Matilda (Rowenhorst) Van Roekel. He attended country school and later took over the family farm one mile north of Sioux Center. He married Jeziena "Cena" Doornwaard daughter of John and Alyda (Rensink) Doornwaard on November 27, 1919 at the bride's home. Cena graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1912, and she worked at Arendsen Store until her marriage.
The first years they were married, they had two of Al's brothers living with them. George who was not married and was farming a piece of land nearby and Henry during the summer months when he was home from school. In 1926, they had a farm auction and moved to the place where Wilbur Huisman lives, and operated a dairy farm. They delivered milk from house to house. Those were the days before refrigeration, so they delivered two times on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and three times on Monday and Saturday. Milk sold for 2 ½ c per pint, and 5 c per quarto.
Albert and Cena were members of the Central Reformed Church where Al served on the consistory and Cena was a member of the Ladies Aid.
Farm place of Albert Van Roekel
(now residen-
ce of Wilbur Huisman)
Al and Cena had two children, Gordon Albert Van Roekel born December 6, 1925 and Lloyd James Van Roekel born May 16, 1929. Both sons are living in Sioux Center. Gordon married Lois Dykshorn, a daughter of Martin and Jennie (Vande Berg) Dykshorn on December 6, 1945. They are the parents of four children: Mary born in 1947 married Vern Fedders and they are living in Le Mars, Iowa; Robert born in 1950 married Karel Kessler and they are living in Primghar, Iowa; Ruth born in 1953 married Dave Kooiker and they are living at Lake Wilson, Minnesota; and William born in 1968 married Jamie Siegrest and are attending Northwestern College at Orange City, Iowa.
Lloyd Van Roekel married Elma Vande Berg, daughter of Henry and Della (Kroon) Vande Berg on June 28,1951. They are parents of three children: Mark born in 1953 married Brenda De Wild and they are living on the farm in the Newkirk Iowa, area; Paul born in 1955 married Linda Holwierda and they are living by Sioux Center; and Janet born in 1959 married Brian Amundson and they are living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Albert G. Van Roekel passed away June 8, 1948 and his wife Cena died August 21, 1975. Both are buried in the Sioux Center Cemetery.
by Lois Van Roekel
Between 1st & 2nd E-W roads, row 13 east of west entry road.
Albert 1895-1948 Cena 1895-1978
Albert Van Roekel Dies After Short Illness
Mr. Albert Van Roekel passed away at his home early Tuesday morning, June 8, 1948 after an illness of three weeks due to heart trouble. He was 52 years of age.
Mr. Van Roekel was born at Sioux Center on Oct. 17, 1895, and was a son of Geurt Van Roekel and Mathilda Rowenhorst
On Nov. 27, 1919 he was united in marriage to Miss Cena Doornwaard. 2 sons were born to them, Gordon Albert and Loyd James who with their mother and one grand-daughter, Mary Ellen survive.
He is further survived by three brothers and two sisters, John of Hull, Otto of Orange City and Henry of Amherst, Mass., Mrs. John B. Mouw of Sioux Center and Mrs. C. A. Kuyper of Rock Valley.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers Chris of Carmel, William of Orange City, and George of Alton.
He was a member of the Central Reformed church for 30 years.
Funeral services will be held on Friday afternoon at one o'clock at the home and at one-thirty at the Central Reformed church Rev. Benjamin Ver Steeg will officiate at the services and burial will take place in the local cemetery.
Sioux Center News 1948-06-10.
Mrs. Albert Van Roekel
Mrs. Albert Van Roekel, 79, of Sioux Center, died Aug. 21 in a Sioux Center hospital.
Services were at 10 a.m. Aug. 23 in the Central Reformed Church. The Rev. Wesley Kiel officiated. Burial was in Memory Gardens Cemetery with the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Van Roekel, the former Cena Doornwaard, was born Dec. 11,1895. She was married Nov. 27,1919 in Sioux Center. Mr. Van Roekel died June 8, 1946.
Survivors include two sons, Gordon of Sioux Center and Lloyd of Orange City; a sister, Mrs. Henry (Tina) Van Roekel of Pella; seven grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Alton Democrat 1975-08-27.