Life Legacy of Wilma Van Grootheest
Doon, IA: Wilma Van Roekel, 84, of Doon, Iowa died Friday, November 9, 2018, at
Sanford Rock Rapids Medical Center in Rock Rapids, Iowa.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, November 13, at 2:00 PM at Porter Funeral
Home of Rock Valley with Rev. J.J. Witvoet officiating.
Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley.
Visitation, with the family present, will be held Monday, November 12, from 6:00-8:00
PM at Porter Funeral Home.
Memorials may be given to Good Samaritan Society - George or Netherlands Reformed
Christian School.
Wilma Van Roekel, daughter of Henry and Gertie (Roozenboom) Van Grootheest, was born January 2, 1934, at Fairview, South Dakota. Her family moved to a farm west of Rock Valley, Iowa when she was 15. Wilma attended country school through the 8th grade. She married Hans Van Roekel on December 14, 1955 at her parent’s home near Rock Valley. The couple first lived north of Doon, Iowa and later moved to another place north of Doon. Hans and Wilma moved into Doon on July 4, 1988. Wilma became a resident of Rock Rapids Health Center in February 2017 and then moved to Good Samaritan Society - George in July 2018.
Wilma worked at Valley Manor (Whispering Heights) for 30 years doing laundry for the residents. Wilma was kindhearted and a hard-working mother and grandmother. She was always fun loving and like to play pranks. Wilma would draw and color with the grandkids when they were little. Her love for music was life-long. She would sing and play guitar at gatherings or just to entertain herself at home. Wilma also enjoyed sewing and baking.
Wilma is survived by her husband of 62 years, Hans; 2 sons, Willie (Glo) Van Roekel of Rock Rapids, Iowa and Henry (Trissa) Van Roekel of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 4 grandchildren, Amy (Darrin) DeBoer, Amanda (Chris) Huisman, Taylor (Kaleb) Heyer, and Zachary Van Roekel; 6 great-grandchildren, Bailey and Mason DeBoer and Josie, Kyndra, Kelsey, and CJ Husiman; 2 sisters, Grace Van Hill and Betty Piscitella; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Gertie; father and mother-in-law, William and Willemina Van Roekel; and sister, Tena Van Muyden.
Doon, IA: Hans Van Roekel, 85, of Doon, Iowa died Wednesday, January 15, 2020, at
Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Funeral service will be held Tuesday, January 21 at 2:00 PM at Porter Funeral Home
in Rock Valley, Iowa with Rev. J.J. Witvoet officiating.
Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley.
Visitation, with the family present, will be held Monday, January 20, from 5:30-7:00
PM at Porter Funeral Home.
Memorials may be given to the Doon Rescue Squad.
Hans (Johannes) Van Roekel was born October 28, 1934 on the farm by Rock Valley, the son of Willem and Willemina (Teunissen) Van Roekel. As a boy, the family moved north of Doon and he attended Garfield Country School to the eighth grade. He married Wilma Van Grootheest on December 14, 1955 at her parents’ home near Rock Valley. To this union two children were born, Willis and Henry.
Hans farmed until the early 1980’s and then drove truck long distance and local until his health would not allow him to continue. He fought and won two battles with cancer. Hans and Wilma moved to Doon to their present home in 1988, where he remained until a fall last Thursday, January 9. Hans was very particular with his cars and tools, to the point of even waxing his lawn mower. Keeping detailed paperwork on everything and knew pretty much where it all was at. Wilma passed away November 9, 2018.
Hans is survived by his sons, Willie (Glo) Van Roekel of Rock Rapids, Iowa and Henry (Trissa) Van Roekel of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; grandchildren, Amy (Darrin) De Boer, Amanda Huisman, Taylor (Kaleb) Heyer, and Zachary Van Roekel; great-grandchildren, Bailey and Mason De Boer, Josie, Kyndra, Kelsey, and CJ Huisman; sister, Bertha Van Grootheest; brother, Case Van Roekel; sister-in-law, Betty Piscitella; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma; parents, Willem and Willemina Van Roekel; parents-in-law, Henry and Gertie Van Grootheest; brother-in-law, Ed Van Grootheest; sister-in-law, Tena Van Muyden; and sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Don and Grace Van Hill.
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