Obituary
Gerrit Van Beek of Rock Valley passed away at his home Sunday, March 4th. He was born Nov. 4, 1890, at Bennekom, Gelderland, the Netherlands. He came to America at the age of two and was married March 6, 1912, to Clara Buma.
His wife and seven children survive: Peter, Agnes (Mrs. Jim Blom), Harry, Nick, Mease, Everdena (Mrs. Wm. Koedam), and Simon at home. All children live in Rock Valley. There are 10 grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers and three sisters: Peter of Jenison, Mich.; Nick of Kent City, Mich.; Mary (Mrs. Siebert Kooima) of Rock Valley; Nellie (Mrs. Albert Ten Kley) of Sheldon; Mease of Hawarden; and Alice (Mrs. John De Boer) of Rock Valley.
The funeral was held at 12 o'clock at the home and a 2 o'clock at the Netherlands Reformed Church. Rev. John Van Zweden officiated. Burial was in Valley View cemetery. Pallbearers were Peter Hoogendoorn, Wm. Fluit, Art Van Veldhuizen, Cornelius Blom, Lane Rozeboom and Wm. Schelling.
Obituary from The Sioux Center News (3/8/1951)
Obituary
Funeral services for Mrs. Gerrit Van Beek, who passed away at the Lutheran Hospital, in Sioux City, Sunday, were held Wednesday, June 9, at the Porter Funeral Home, Rock Valley, at 1:30 p.m., with Rev. C. Hegeman, officiating.
Mrs. Van Beek was born in Wolsun, Netherlands, on February 18, 1892. She came to America with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Buma, and settled in New Jersey for a few years before moving to the Rock Valley area. She was married to Gerrit Van Beek on March 6, 1912.
She is survived by her seven children, Peter of Bellflower, Calif., Agnes, Mrs. Jim Blom; Harry; Nick; Mease, Everdina, Mrs. Wm. Koedam, all of Rock Valley; and Simon, of Doon.
There are 26 grandchildren, six great grandchildren, one sister, Mrs. Gerrit Visser and one brother Sam, of Rock Valley.
She was preceded in death by her husband, three brothers and one sister.
Pallbearers are Edward Van Beek, Clarence Blom, Gerald Van Beek, Sidney Koedam, James Van Beek, and Wilmer Van Beek. Interment will be at the Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley.
Obituary from The Sioux Center News (6/17/1965)
Obituary
Pete Van Beek, 73, died May 16 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was born December, 29, 1912. He married Gertrude Voortman in Carmel in December of 1932.
Mr. Van Beek lived at 10117 Nicklos St., Bellflower, Calif. He was formerly from the Rock Valley area.
A sister, Mrs. Jim (Agnes) Blom preceded him in death. Nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren also survive Mr. Van Beek.
The funeral services were held in Bellflower, California.
Obituary from The Rock Valley Bee (5/23/1984)
Obituary
Jim Blom, 82, of Rock Valley died of a heart attack Tuesday, Jan. 20,1998, at Hegg Memorial Hospital in Rock Valley. Services were Friday at Netherlands Reformed Church in Rock Valley, with the Rev. John den Hoed officiating. Burial was in Valley View Cemetery. Visitation was Thursday at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley.
Mr. Blom was bom March 24, 1915, in Utrecht, the Netherlands. He moved with his family to the United States, first to the Pella, Iowa, area and later to the Sioux County area, when he was 16 years old.
He married Agnes Van Beek on Feb. 19, 1941, in Rock Valley. The couple farmed near Rock Valley until retiring and moving into Rock Valley in 1972. She died Sept 5, 1974.
He enjoyed working with horses.
He was preceded in death by a son, Clarence, three brothers and a sister.
Obituary from The Rock Valley Bee (1/28/1998)
Notes
Birthplace discrepancy - U.S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index has Abbenes Hare, Netherlands (which is in Noord-Holland); Obituary has Utrecht.
Suggested Edits
Suggested By: Roelof van Beek (50405528) on 2 Feb 2021
Nickname Jacobus
Obituary
Funeral services were held at the Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley at 2:30 P.M., Monday, September 9 for Mrs. Jim Blom, 59, of Rock Valley, who died September 5 at the Rock Valley hospital.
Services were conducted by the Rev. A. M. Den Boer and burial was in the Valley View Cemetery at Rock Valley.
Mrs. Blom, the former Agnes Van Beek, was born October 28, 1914 in Rock Valley.
Obituary from The Sioux Center News (9/11/1974)
Harry Van Beek, 84, Rock Valley, died Saturday, Oct. 19, at Hegg Memorial Hospital in Rock Valley. Services were Wednesday, Oct. 23, at Faith Reformed Church in Rock Valley, with the Rev. Jan Neels officiating. Burial was at Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley, under the direction of Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley.
Harry Van Beek, son of Gerrit and Clara (Buma) Van Beek, was born April 1, 1918, near Rock Valley. He worked with his father on the family farm near Rock Valley and attended country school in the Rock Valley area. He married Rena Den Boer on Nov. 3, 1944, on the Den Boer farmstead in East Hudson. They farmed north of Rock Valley for more than 50 years. They retired in 1989 and moved into Rock Valley. He enjoyed farming, reading and attending farm auctions, and especially loved spending time with his grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by four brothers, Pete Van Beek, Mick Van Beek, Mease Van Beek and Simon Van Beek; and a sister, Agnes Blom.
Obituary from The Rock Valley Bee (10/30/2002)
Source: Porter Funeral Home
Rena Van Beek, daughter of Luke and Hilda (De Haan) Den Boer, was born on September 2, 1923. She was born and raised on a farm west and south of Rock Valley, known at that time as East Hudson, Iowa. She received her first eight years of education at the local country school, and after graduating from the eighth grade she attended the Rock Valley High School for one year. She helped on her parent's farm doing a variety of labors, from milking cows to shocking oats and threshing grain. She also assisted families after a baby was born and helped clean houses.
Rena married Harry Van Beek on November 3, 1944, at her parent's home. They moved to a farm north of Rock Valley, where they lived until moving to Rock Valley in 1989. They enjoyed traveling, visiting relatives and friends, and going on several tours. Because of health concerns, they moved to Heritage Estates in May, 2002. Rena dearly loved her family, and they were very important to her. She especially enjoyed time spent with her grandchildren, and they always got a hug from her when they left. She also spent many hours watching her grandchildren participate in school activities.
Rena was a member of the Heritage Reformed Church in Hull, Iowa. Her church family was also very important to her, and she enjoyed sending cards to all of them for their special occasions.
She is survived by her children, Hildonna (Tom) Vande Pol, Carolyn (Ken) Gacke, Al (Colleen) Van Beek and Kris (Brian) Vande Hoef; 11 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; brother, John Den Boer; sisters-in-law, Gert Den Boer, Wilma Van Beek and Henrietta Van Beek.
Rena was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 58 years; son, Gerald; grandson, Tyler Van Beek; great-granddaughter, Elise Post; brother, Andrew Den Boer; sisters and brothers-in-law, Art and Suzanne Vande Hoef, Teunis and Leona Fluit; sisters-in-law, Margaret Den Boer, Minnie Den Boer; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Peter and Gert Van Beek, Jim and Agnes Blom, Wm S. and Everdena Koedam, Nick and Adriana Van Beek, Mease Van Beek and Simon Van Beek.
Nick Van Beek, 65, of Rock Valley, died Thursday, Oct. 10, at a Rock Valley Hospital.
Services were at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, in the Netherlands Reformed Church in Rock Valley. The Rev. John Den Hoed officiated and burial was in Valley View Cemetery. Family visitation was at the Porter Funeral Home.
Mr. Van Beek was born July 26, 1920, at Rock Valley. He married Adriana De Wit, on Sept. 30, 1941, in Rock Rapids. Together they farmed near Lester and in the Rock Valley area.
Obituary from The Rock Valley Bee (10/16/1985)
Rock Valley, IA: Adrianna Van Beek, 93, of Rock Valley died Sunday, May 18, 2014 at Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull, Iowa.
A funeral service will be 10 am Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at Porter Funeral Home with Rev. Gerrit Baan officiating. Burial will follow at the Valley View Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be 5:00-7:00 pm Tuesday May 20, 2014 at Porter Funeral Home.
Adrianna was born December 29, 1920 at Rock Rapids, Iowa, daughter of Bastiaan and Margje (Van Den Toorn) deWit.
She married Nick Van Beek on September 30, 1941 at Rock Rapids. Together they farmed near Lester and then near Rock Valley. Nick died October 10, 1985.
Adrianna enjoyed crafts and sewing Dutch dolls. She especially enjoyed serving others working for Hope Haven's Foster Grandparent Program.
Adrianna is survived by her children, Clara Ann (Dick G.) Bleyenberg of Rock Valley, Jim Van Beek of Brandon, SD, Gary (Fonda) Van Beek of Rock Valley, and daughter-in-law, Joyce Van Beek of Rock Valley; 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Nick; son, John Van Beek; great-grandchildren, Travis and Jennifer Van Beek; brother, John deWit; 2 sisters, Margaret Iwen and Nellie Berg; and 7 half-brothers.
Porter Funeral Home.
Mease Van Beek, age 74, of Rock Valley, died Friday November 15, 1996 at the Sioux Valley Hospital at Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral service will be 2:00 PM Tuesday at the Faith Reformed Church at Rock Valley. Rev Dr. Joel Beeke will be officiating. Burial will be at the Valley View Cemetery at Rock Valley. Visitation will be Monday with the family present 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Porter Funeral Home at Rock Valley.
Mease was born July 25, 1922 at Rock Valley. He was the son of Gerrit and Clara (Buma) Van Beek. Mease served in the U.S. Army during WW II. He married Wilma Van Ginkel November 13, 1947 at Rock Valley. Together they farmed north of Rock Valley until moving to Rock Valley in April 1995.
Mease was very active in serving on many boards including Rock Valley Community School Board (15 years), Hegg Memorial Hospital Board, Valley State Bank Board, Farmers Lumber Board, and Rock Valley Rural Water Board.
Mease was preceded in death by his parents, Gerrit and Clara; two brothers, Pete and Nick Van Beek; one sister, Mrs. Jim (Agnes) Blom.
Obituary from The Rock Valley Bee (11/20/1996)
Everdena Koedam, 85, died in the early morning on Saturday, January 29, 2011 at her home in the Four Seasons community in Rock Valley. The funeral service is at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 1 at Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Rock Valley with burial immediately following at Valley View Cemetery. Reverend P.L. Bazen will officiate. Visitation with the family present is 6:30 8:00 p.m. on Monday, January 31 at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley.
Everdena was born to Gerrit and Clara (Buma) Van Beek on November 22, 1925 in the family's farm home, just north of Rock Valley. The sixth youngest of seven children, Everdena attended country school and had no qualms of getting dirty with her five brothers and sister working on the family farm. Being a farm girl, she was destined to meet a farm boy and did. Everdena married William Bill Koedam of Corsica, S.D. on March 12, 1946. Together, they lived in rural Rock Valley and raised five children. They moved to town in 1971 where they remained together until their deaths. Bill died on February 23, 2005.
Everdena, also known as Ev's or Dene by close friends, was a devoted wife to her husband in his farming and livestock operations. Whether tending to her garden, scooping silage, baling hay, or working in the cattle yards, Everdena loved being outdoors on the farm. There was never a job too big or too dirty that Everdena backed out of. She was the epitome of work horse. Everdena was also known for her top-notch baking. Throughout her life, Everdena spent many hours in the kitchen preparing her mouth-watering baked goods, which were enjoyed by thousands over the years as she baked for the cafes in her husband's livestock salebarns.
Most of all, Everdena enjoyed spending time with her family and friends. Whether over a game, piecing together a puzzle, or a cup of coffee and a slice of her favorite sour cream raisin pie, Everdena was known by all as having a listening ear, wise advice and an even-tempered demeanor that made her so easy to love.
Grateful for having shared her life are Everdena's five children, Sid (Linda) Koedam of Rock Valley, Lavonne Joyal of Rock Valley, Betty (Randy) Kock of Inwood, Iowa, Roger (Muriel) Koedam of Rock Valley, and Kathy (Denny) Cannegieter of Rock Valley. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and sister-in-laws Adrianna Van Beek, Rena Van Beek, Wilma Van Beek, and Henrietta Van Beek, all of Rock Valley. Everdena also leaves behind an abundance of loved friends who she made throughout her life.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; great-granddaughter, Belle Van Bemmel; brothers, Pete, Harry, Nick, Mease, and Simon Van Beek; sister and brother-in-law, Agnes and Jim Blom.
Obituary & Photo are from Porter Funeral Home
Simon Van Beek, 64, of Rock Valley died Thursday, March 19, at the Hegg Memorial Hospital in Rock Valley. Services were at 10:30 a.m. Monday at Calvin Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley with the Rev. Mark Kelderman officiating. Burial was in Valley View Cemetery.
Van Beek was born July 20, 1933, in Rock Valley, the son of Gerrit and Clara (Buma) Van Beek.
He married Henrietta Vande Hoef March 10, 1953, in Sioux Center. The couple lived near Rock Valley where he farmed and had a livestock trucking business.
He was a member of Heritage Reformed Church in Hull.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Pete, Nick and Mease; and a sister, Agnes Blom.
Obituary from The Sioux Center News (3/24/1998)