Tana Mae Van Roekel was born August 9, 1924, to Hubert and Dora (Van Ommen) Van Gilst, at their home south of Pella. She passed away Monday, June 27, 2016, with her family by her side.
Tana graduated from Pella Community High School with the class of 1941, with a "Normal Training Teaching Certificate." She was a member of Third Reformed Church in Pella, where she made profession of faith and attended the rest of her life. She taught Sunday School and family night classes for many years and was active in the women’s ministries.
Tana met Bernie Van Roekel at church and they married on June 12, 1946, at her parent’s home six miles south of Pella. To this union they were blessed with four children: Kenneth, Marlene, Harley and Donna. Tana worked for the overall factory for a year, taught rural school for four years, and then became a homemaker and partner with Bernie on the farm. Tana enjoyed doing handiwork, especially counted cross stitch and crocheting. It was always a special pleasure to have her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren spend time at her home. She traveled with family and friends to many areas of the country and overseas.
Tana’s family: Loving husband Bernie; Kenneth and Linda Van Roekel, Reeds Spring, Missouri, Shawn Van Roekel; Marlene and Ron Steenhoek, Pella, Iowa, Vicki and Brent Steenhoek, Sierra, Erika, Connor, Jeffrey and Kristin Steenhoek, Ethan, Cael; Harley and Kathe Van Roekel, Otley, Iowa, Jason and Rian Van Roekel, Hailey, Derek, Braden, Tomi and Keith Nelson, Lucas, Collin, Paityn; Donna and Fred Bahls, Clive, Iowa, Christopher and Sheena Bahls, Lia Bahls
Tana is also survived by two sisters: Dorothy Vander Linden of Pella, and Bernice Dodge of St. Louis, Missouri.
Those preceding Tana in death are her parents, sister Wilma Kaldenberg, and grandson Shawn Van Roekel.
[Garden Chapel Funeral Home web site]
Bernie J. Van Roekel was born March 15, 1923, to John and Blanche (Witzenburg) Van Roekel, at his parent’s home east of Otley. He lived in that area until he retired and moved to Pella in 1995. He passed away February 1, 2018, with his family by his side.
Bernie attended Richland School east of Otley. After 8th grade, he started farming with his father, and continued helping on the farm even after he moved to Pella.
He was baptized in Bethel Country Church then attended Otley Reformed Church with his parents and later became a member of Third Reformed Church in Pella, where he made profession of faith. He served as a deacon and was a Hospice volunteer.
Bernie met Tana Van Gilst at church and they married on June 12, 1946, at her parent’s home six miles south of Pella. To this union they were blessed with four children: Kenneth, Marlene, Harley and Donna. Bernie and Tana traveled with family and friends to many areas in our country and overseas. They loved spending time with all their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bernie will be remembered as being strong, hardworking, caring and helpful.
Bernie will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Bernie’s family: Kenneth and Linda Van Roekel, Branson West, Missouri; Shawn Van Roekel, Marlene and Ron Steenhoek, Pella, Iowa; Vicki and Brent Steenhoek, Sierra, Erika, Connor; Jeffrey and Kristin Steenhoek, Ethan, Cael; Harley and Kathe Van Roekel, Pella, Iowa, Jason and Rian Van Roekel, Hailey, Derek, Braden; Tomi and Keith Nelson, Lucas, Collin, Paityn; Donna and Fred Bahls, Clive, Iowa; Christopher and Sheena Bahls, Kaiden Bahls, Lia Bahls
Those preceding Bernie in death are his wife Tana, his parents Blanche and John Van Roekel, grandson Shawn Van Roekel, and his sisters: Henrietta Van Zante, Ada Beyer, Jenella Verros, and Johanna Mathes.
[Garden Chapel Funeral Home web site]