East side of the main entrance road, row 2
Services were 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Alton Reformed Church in Alton, with the Revs. Michael Hardeman, Elizabeth Hardeman and Jason Olson officiating. Interment was in Nassau Township Cemetery near Alton.
Gertrude was born on April 24, 1930, in Orange City, the daughter of Theodore and Gertrude (Keizer) De Vries. She was raised at Orange City, where she attended the Christian School, graduating in 1944.
On Aug. 4, 1949, she married Lawrence Van Roekel in Orange City. They first lived on a farm by Maurice, Iowa. Since the fall of 1959, they have made their home in Alton. On May 20 of this year, she became a resident of the Good Samaritan Society in Estherville. In addition to being a homemaker, Gert had been employed as a telephone operator, as a food service supervisor at the Orange City Municipal Hospital and as a food service helper at the Heritage House in Orange City.
She was a member of the Alton Reformed Church, where she taught catechism classes. She was also a 4-H leader and a hospice volunteer.
Survivors include her husband of 60 years; four children and their spouses, Gretchen and Peter Vande Poppe of Alton, Lauren and Laurie Van Roekel of Laurel, Mont., Linda and Michael Isley of Baxter, Iowa, and David and Lynae Van Roekel of Estherville, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Angela Roberts, Amanda Huss, Allison Van Regenmorter; Erin Dailey, Sara Kane; Natalie Brown, Tyler Van Roekel, and Whitney Van Roekel; 12 great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Rena De Vries, of Le Mars, Iowa. She is also survived by Lawrence's two sisters, Frances Kroeze of Sheldon, Iowa, and Joyce and her husband, Don Groen of Maurice; and by special friends, Ruth, Leslie, Luke and Maggie and Lana Greving.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by six brothers, Dick, Theodore Jr., William and three named John; and a sister, Willemina Niessink.
September 15, 1926 - February 13, 2016
Lawrence Van Roekel, age 89, of Alton, passed away on Saturday, February 13, 2016, at the Happy Siesta Care Center in Remsen.
There will be a funeral service on Tuesday, February 16, at 2:00pm, at the Alton Reformed Church. The Revs. Michael Hardeman and Elizabeth Hardeman will officiate. Interment will follow the service at the Nassau Township Cemetery near Alton.
Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.
Lawrence Elroy was born on September 15, 1926, at rural Maurice, the son of Benjamin and Jennie (Peuse) Van Roekel. He attended Sherman Township #8 grade school and helped on the farm until joining the United States Army. He was stationed in the Philippines and Japan during World War II. After returning from the service he continued to help on the farm.
On August 5, 1949, he married Gertrude De Vries in Orange City. They made their home on a farm near Maurice for nine years before moving to Alton in 1959. He hauled milk for 30 years, and after retirement worked part time in Mark’s cabinet shop in Alton. Gertrude passed away on September 22, 2009, in Orange City. He moved to Happy Siesta Care Center in October of 2015.
Mr. Van Roekel was a member of the Alton Reformed Church, where he was a volunteer for Logo’s. He enjoyed his flowers and wood working, and was a volunteer for the Orange City Area Hospice for many years.
Survivors include his four children and their spouses, Gretchen and Peter Vande Poppe, of Alton; Lauren and Laurie Van Roekel, of Billings, Montana; Linda and Michael Isley, of Baxter; and Dave and Lynae Van Roekel, of Estherville; eight grandchildren, Angela Charles, Amanda Vande Griend, Allison Van Regenmorter, Erin Dailey, Sara Kane, Natalie Brown, Tyler Van Roekel, and Whitney Planting; fifteen great-grandchildren; two sisters, Frances Kroeze, of Sheldon, and Joyce, and her husband, Don Groen, of Maurice; and his special friends, Ruth Greving, of Alton; Leslie Greving, of Orange City; Luke and Maggie Greving, and their children Emmalyn and Eliott, Lana (Greving) and Travis Van Es, and their son Quinley, all of Alton.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Gerritt Kroeze.
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