Christine Vanden Top Kroon was born on May 28, 1918 in Alvord, IA, the daughter of
Gilbert and Christina (Wallenburg) Van Hill.
She grew up on a farm southwest of Alvord, IA and attended country school through
the 8th grade.
After her education she provided child care and house cleaning for area families.
Christine was united in marriage to Gerrit J. Vanden Top on December 6, 1937 in Grand Rapids MI. They lived there for 5 years and moved to Lester, IA in 1942. In 1950 they moved to their farm north of Alvord. In 1961 they moved to a farm 3 miles west of Alvord and remained there. While raising her children and helping with farm work, she also enjoyed gardening, needlework, and crafts. Her husband Gerrit died unexpectedly on September 30, 1966. Christine and her son, Bob, moved from the farm into Alvord and she began working for Dr. Bob Hodgson in his veterinarian office.
Christine married Louis Kroon on October 17, 1969 at the First Reformed Church Parsonage in Inwood. They then lived in Hospers, IA until 1989 when they moved to Rock Rapids, IA. Louis died on March 13, 2001.
Christine remained living in Rock Rapids and was a member of the Christian Reformed Church, active with various church activities. In April of 2011, Christine entered the Rock Rapids Health Centre and remained there until her death this past Monday, January 28, 2019, at the age of 100 years, 8 months.
She is survived by her three children, Betty C. and (Henry) Bouma of Luverne, MN, Gilbert G. (Leona) Vanden Top of Rock Rapids, IA and Robert J. (wife Arlene) Vanden Top of Rock Valley, IA; eighteen grandchildren; thirty-eight great-grandchildren; ten great-great-grandchildren; step-son John and (Lila) Kroon of Lynden WA, step-daughter, Glady Arends of Slayton, MN, step-daughter in-law, Barb Theis of Sheldon, and many step-grandchildren. Brother-in-law Gerrit J. (Lazetta) Van Den Top Jr., Sioux Falls; two sisters-in-law, Rika Van Den Top of Sioux Falls, SD and Jennie Brower of Hills, MN; Plus, many, many nieces, nephews and other extended family.
She was preceded in death her parents, Gilbert and Christina Van Hill; her 1st husband of 28 years, Gerrit J. Vanden Top; 2nd husband of 31 years, Louis Kroon; two grandchildren, Mary Jo Huisman and Tonya Leusink; a step son, Larry Kroon; six brothers, Albert (Alice), Tony (Henrietta), Joe (Grace), Gilbert (Jeanette), Bud (Geneva), and Don (Grace) Van Hill; and four sisters, Gertie (Al) Timmerman, Gertrude (Henry)Ackerman, infants Christine Van Hill, Mary Van Hill. Also, Brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Gerrit's siblings, Dick, George, Bill, Alice, and Gertude.
Jurrens Funeral Home
Rock Rapids, Iowa
Mr. Van Den Top was born April 6, 1918, at Alvord, the son of Gerrit and Elizabeth (Rosenboom) Van Den Top. He attended country school near Alvord. On April 2, 1940, he married Willemina "Minnie" Burgers at Inwood. They farmed in the Canton area until he retired in 1983. He became a resident of Canton Good Samaritan Center in 1998.
Survivors include his wife; three sons, Gerrit of Early, George of Doon and Melvin of Sioux Falls, S.D.; four daughters, Mrs. Ward (Elizabeth) Twedt, Mrs. Gary (Wilma) Romereim and Mrs. Jim (Marlene) Aaesheim, all of Canton, and Mrs. Jet (Carol) Hieronymus of Mountain City, Tenn.; 17 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; two stepgreat-grandchildren; two brothers, Bill of Rock Valley and Gerrit Jr. of Canton, and one sister, Mrs. Ron (Jennie) Brower of Ellsworth, Minn
Wilhelmina "Minnie" Van Den Top died Friday, Sept 2, 2011, at Dougherty Hopice House.
Funeral service was Tuesday, Sept 6, at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, SD, with
burial in Valley View Cemetery, Rock Valley, IA.
Wilhelmina Burgers was born Feb 21, 1920 in Canton, SD to George and Wilma (Zielstra) Burgers.
She married Dick Van Den Top on April 2, 1940, in Inwood, IA. The couple farmed in the Canton area until Dick's retirement in 1983. Dick died in 2002. Minnie was a farm wife who also worked for the SD Department of Social Services for 10 years. She enjoyed crocheting, gardening, reading, working puzzles, traveling and sharing Dutch heritage with her grandchildren.
Survivors include her sons, Gerrit (Irene) of Early, IA, George (Cheryl) of Doon, IA, and Melvin of Sioux Falls, SD; daughters Elizabeth (Ward) Twedt of Canton, Carol (Jet) Hieronymus of Mountain City, TN, and Marlene (Jim) Aasheim of Canton; 17 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; brothers George (Marge) Burgers of Inwood; sisters, Jenny (Clinton) Clark of Clark, SD, Grace Boeve of Luverne, MN, and Wilma (Jim) Koedam of Doon, IA.
She was preceded in death by her husband; sisters, Bertha, Tillie and Nellie, and brothers, Neal and Weber.
Obituary posted in West Lyon Herald Sept 14, 2011.
William Van Den Top, 84, of Rock Valley, died Friday, November 18, 2011.
William (Bill) was born February 26, 1927 at Alvord, IA, son of Gerrit and Elizabeth (Rozeboom) Van Den Top. He married Jeanette Van Voorst on July 2, 1948 at Sioux Center, Iowa. Together they farmed near Inwood, IA, Viborg, Davis, and Fairview, SD, Doon and then Hull, IA. They moved to Rock Valley in 1975 where Bill began working at Farmers Lumber Company and later at M+H True Value Hardware. Bill and Jeanette moved to Whispering Heights at Rock Valley on October 7, 2011.
Bill is survived by his wife, Jeanette; children, Betty (Wilmar) Pollema of Hull6 IA, Jane (Bruce) Aning of Rock Rapids, IA, Joyce (Ronald) Maassen of Boyden, IA, Judy (Larry) Dokter of Boyden, IA, Gloria (Gary) Teunissen of Rock Valley, Darlene (Daryl) Maassen of Doon, IA, Eldon (Gladys) Van Den Top of Rock Valley, Daryl (Debra) Van Den Top of Hull, IA; daughter-in-law, Lois (Ted) Salazar of Hull, IA; 30 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; brother, Gerrit Jr. (Maureen) Van Den Top of Canton, SD; sister, Jennie (Ronald) Brower of Ellsworth, MN; sisters-in-law, Rika Van Den Top of Sioux Falls, SD, Chris Kroon of Rock Rapids, IA.
Bill was preceded in death by his son, Willis Van Den Top; son-in-law, Rodney Dibbet; grandchildren, Sheila Maassen and Bruce Pollema; brothers, George, Gerrit John, and Dick Van Den Top; sisters, Alice Langstraat and Gertrude Oostra.
Obituary & Photo are from the Porter Funeral Home
Jeanette Van Den Top, 84, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Saturday, July 28, 2012 at
Whispering Heights in Rock Valley.
Jeanette (Van Voorst) Van Den Top, was born in Sioux Center, Iowa on December 16, 1927, daughter of Jacob and Jeanette (Vande Hoef) Van Voorst. On July 2, 1948 she was united in marriage with William Van Den Top in Sioux Center. Together they farmed near Inwood, Iowa, Viborg, Davis, and Fairview, South Dakota, Doon and then Hull, Iowa. They moved to Rock Valley in 1975 and together they moved into Whispering Heights on October 7, 2011. Bill died on November 18, 2011.
Jeanette served her family as a Homemaker and also worked recess duty at Boyden-Hull School, catered with her daughter Betty, and spent 18 years working at Valley Manor. Her hobbies included crocheting, quilting, cooking, reading and fishing. Jeanette crocheted several blankets for her grandkids. She was also very faithful in helping with Martha Mission Guild at Netherlands Reformed Congregation where she was a member.
Jeanette is survived by her children, Betty (Wilmar) Pollema of Hull, IA, Jane (Bruce) Aning of Rock Rapids, IA, Joyce (Ronald) Maassen of Boyden, IA, Judy (Larry) Dokter of Boyden, IA, Gloria (Gary) Teunissen of Rock Valley, Darlene (Daryl) Maassen of Doon, IA, Eldon (Gladys) Van Den Top of Rock Valley, Daryl (Debra) Van Den Top of Hull, IA; daughter-in-law, Lois (Ted) Salazar of Hull, IA; 30 grandchildren; 55 great-grandchildren; 5 step-grandchildren; 16 step-great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, George (Chris) Vonk; sister-in-law, Jeanette Van Voorst; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill; son, Willis Van Den Top; son-in-law, Rodney Dibbet; grandchildren, Sheila Maassen and Bruce Pollema; and 11 brothers and sisters.
Obituary & Photo is from The Porter Funeral Home
Gerald Oostra, "farmer" (nick-name), was born on April 11, 1928 in Doon, Iowa. He was the son of John and Kate (Van Surksum) Oostra. He lived his youth in the Rock Valley, Iowa, area, and later moved to Michigan.
He was united in marriage to Gertrude Van Den Top of Inwood, Iowa, on April 16, 1949, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They lived in rural Sheldon, Iowa, where they farmed for 38 years. Gerald later worked at Land 0 Lakes in Sheldon, he retired and shortly thereafter started working again. Gertrude passed away on June 1, 2000. He was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon. Gerald enjoyed visiting his family in Texas, fishing, playing cards and working. He especially enjoyed getting together every weekend and going out to eat with his brothers and sisters. Gerald passed away on Thursday, July 24, 2008, at Sanford Sheldon Hospital in Sheldon.
Those left to cherish his memories are his children: Jerry and Pamela Oostra of Keller, TX, and their children: Chad and Havilah Oostra and their children: Myah and Jamison, Todd and Katie Oostra and their child: Gavin, and Amanda Brower; Elaine and Richard Buchman of Bedford, TX, and their children: Angela and Greg Young and their children: Jacob, John, Julia and Joshua, and Rachel Ailshie, Philip and Ashley Buchman and their children: Hunter and Mayson, and Joseph Buchman; Kelvin and Karen Oostra of Euless, TX, and their children: Kyle Oostra and Kaitlyn Oostra; Diane Heusinkveld and Stephen Urban of Lake Country, TX, and her children: Ashley and Brian Killian and their children: Benjamin, Caleb, and Emily, and Haley Heusinkveld; Brad and Kara Oostra of Sheldon, IA, and their children: Nicholas Oostra and Nathan Oostra; five brothers: Richard Oostra of Sioux Center, IA, Jacob and Teresa Oostra of Rock Valley, IA, William "Bill" and Lois Oostra of Winneconne, WI, Andrew and Wilmina Oostra of Rock Valley, IA, Robert and Muriel Oostra of Hull, IA; two sisters: Mary Grooters of Hull, IA, and Ruth Van Engen of Sioux Center, IA.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Gertrude; son, Brian; one sister: Berdina Van Maanen; four brothers: Andrew Oostra, John Oostra, Marinus Oostra, and Ralph Oostra.