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.
VAN ROEKEL, GORDON AND LOIS (DYKSHORN)
Gordon Albert Van Roekel was born at Sioux Center on December 6, 1925 to Albert and Cena (Doornwaard) Van Roekel. Their story is given separately. Gordon received his education at the Sioux Center Public School, and later spent some time in the service. He was in the 703 M.P. battalion, assigned to duty as white house guard, and other duties in the Washington D.C. area. When he returned home, he married Lois Dykshom daughter of Martin and Jennie (Vande Berg) Dykshorn on December 6, 1946. Lois was born near lreton on August 6, 1927. She received her education in the country school and Sioux Center High School.
They farmed four miles south and four and a quarter miles west of Sioux Center till 1974 when Gordon had some health problems. After moving into Sioux Center, he was a salesman for a short while. Also worked for the U.S.D.A. part time. He took a home course in repairing appliances and now has "Gordon's Fix It Shop". He also repairs furniture, and both he and Lois refinished furniture till Lois had back problems. Now Gordon is building custom made furniture, too.
They are members of the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Gordon was a Sunday School teacher many years. Lois is a member of Lydia Circle, and also sang in the choir.
Van Roekel Family. Back Row, L-R: Bill, Lois, Gordon and Robert. Front Row, L-R: Ruth and Mary.
Gordon and Lois have four children, Mary Ellen Van Roekel was born October 13, 1947. She went to school in Sioux Center and nurses training in Sioux City and is an RN. She married Vern Fedders on July 18, 1967. They have two daughters, Amy Marie born August 14, 1969 and Angela Ruth born July 14, 1973. They live in Le Mars, Iowa.
Robert Allan Van Roekel "Bob" was born May 1, 1950. He went to school in Sioux Center and Northwest Iowa Technical College in Sheldon where he took a lineman course. He lives in Primghar, Iowa, where he is an Electrical Superintendent for the town. He married Karel Kessler on June 11, 1971. They have two children, Jennifer Leigh born November 30, 1973 and Christopher Allan born December 21, 1976.
Ruth Leigh Van Roekel was born August 5, 1953. She went to school in Sioux Center, and two years in Ames, Iowa. She married David Kooiker on June 26, 1973. They live at Lake Wilson, Minnesota on a farm. They have four children, Kristi Ann born November 2, 1974, Julie Beth was born November 4, 1976, Andrew Lee was born March 16, 1981 and Gregory David was born September 13, 1984.
William Albert "Bill" Van Roekel was born June 26, 1968. He is a student at Northwestern College at Orange City, majoring in communications. He married Jamie Siegrest on May 27, 1989. They are living in Orange City, Iowa.
by Lois Van Roekel
Gordon Van Roekel, 82, of Sioux Center died Thursday, November 27, 2008 at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls.
A memorial service will be held Monday at 11AM at First Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating. Interment will be held prior to the memorial service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.
A prayer service will be held Monday at 10AM at First Reformed Church of Sioux Center.
Visitation will be held Sunday from 2-8pm, with the family present from 2-4PM at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.
The Van Roekel Family prefers memorials to Words of Hope Ministries.
Gordon Albert Van Roekel was born on December 6, 1925 to Albert G. and Cena (Doornwaard) Van Roekel in Sioux Center, Iowa. He was raised and educated in Sioux Center, graduating from Sioux Center High School.
From 1944-1946 he served in the U.S. Army as a member of the military police White House Guard attaining the rank of Technician Fifth Grade.
Gordon married Lois Betty Dykshorn on December 6, 1946 at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center.
Gordon was baptized and made profession of faith at Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center. After his marriage he transferred membership to First Reformed Church, where he was a Sunday school teacher for several years.
Gordon farmed near Sioux Center during his first year of marriage. They moved to the farm near Maurice where they farmed for 27 years. He was employed as a construction foreman at the Ireton and Orange City elevators; was foreman for the Co-op Elevator's new air quality control system. Because of health reasons Gordon and Lois moved to Sioux Center in 1974. He then was employed by the USDA as a crop estimator. He also repaired small appliances. He was well known for his woodworking skills. He was recognized as a master woodworking craftsman and was featured in Fine Woodworking magazine. All his sons and sons-in-law were given wooden gun cases built by Gordon. His eleven grandchildren treasured furniture keepsakes he made and his great grandchildren also enjoy many wooden toys.
Beginning in 1988, Gordon and Lois made their winter home in Mission Bell, Texas. During that time he volunteered for the Childrens Haven International orphanage; much of his time was spent remodeling the childrens homes by building doors, tables, chests of drawers, and cabinets.
He was a member of the Sioux County Extension Council for many years and was a 4-H leader while his children were active in 4-H. He was a member of the chess club and American Legion Post in Sioux Center.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 61 years, Lois Van Roekel of Sioux Center; his four children, their spouses and children: Mary Fedders and her husband, Vern of Le Mars and their children: Amy (Fedders) Ruhland and her husband, Jeff of Guthrie Center, IA; Angela Fedders of Wichita, KS. Robert (Bob) and his wife, Karel Van Roekel of Guthrie Center, IA and their children: Jennifer (Van Roekel) Sohn and her husband Ryan of Le Mars, IA; SFC Christopher Van Roekel and his wife, Crystal of Guthrie Center, IA. Ruth Kooiker and her husband, David of Lake Wilson, MN and their children: Kristi (Kooiker) Eshuis and her husband, Jarret of Brandon, SD; Julie (Kooiker) Moss of Woodstock, MN; Andrew Kooiker and his wife, Melissa of Edgerton, MN; Gregory Kooiker and Trisha Hulstein of Edgerton, MN; Jesse Kooiker of Lake Wilson, MN. William (Bill) Van Roekel from Nixa, MO and his children: Molly and Emme Van Roekel of Nixa, MO. Along with 14 great grandchildren who also loved him.
Gordon is also survived by brother, Lloyd Van Roekel and his wife, Elma and brother-in-law, John Sjaarda and his wife, Gert all of Sioux Center.
Gordon was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Martin and Jennie Dykshorn and sister-in-law, Joyce Sjaarda.
Life Legacy.
Lois was born at the home of her parents Martin and Jennie (Vande Berg) Dykshorn on a farm near Ireton Iowa.
She was raised and educated in country school, graduating from Sioux Center High School.
Lois married Gordon Albert Van Roekel on December 6-1946 at First Reformed Church of Sioux Center Iowa.
She was baptized and made profession of faith at First Reformed Church. Here she was a Sunday School Teacher. She was a life time member of the Lydia Circle. She sang with the church choir and also made many knitted prayer shawls which were donated to the elderly.
Early on Lois worked for Roelof-Vande Berg grocery and dry goods store. After marrying Gordon she became a full time devoted farm wife and mother. As the children grew she became a Cleaver Clover 4-H leader. And later a skilled maker of roses made of frosting to adorn cakes made by her sister, Joyce Sjaarda. He baking skills were enjoyed by family and friends. She pass her passion for baking through the generation, especially her cinnamon rolls.
In 1973 they moved to Sioux Center and she worked a brief time for the local locker wrapping meat that was being processed. By 1988 they began sharing the winter months in Mission Bell Texas and enjoyed that time together for 20 years.
She also busied herself helping her husband Gordon by putting the finish on his many wood working projects. She spent hours knitting scarves and baby blankets, all perfectly done, for her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed canning her garden bounty and making apple pies for the freezer. She loved her flowers, especially her roses and geraniums and made sure there was not a weed to be found.
Survived by: Children: Marry (Vern)Fedders and their children: Amy (Jeff) Ruhland, Angela Fedders (Eric Stofi) Robert (Karel Van Roekel)and their children: Jennifer (Ryan) Soh, Christopher (Crystal) Van Roekel Ruth (David) Kooiker and their children: Kristi Eshuis, Julie (Darren) Lind, Andrew (Melissa) Kooiker, Greg (Trisha) Kooiker, and Jesse Kooiker. William Van Roekel and his children: Molly, AR, Emme Van Roekel. 19 great grandchildren
Lois is preceded by her parents, husband, many in-laws.
Memorial Funeral Home, Feb-2016