Hope Cemetery Hull, area north of the south entrance road, going to the west, Sec. E row 12 from the east side. 1917-2002
Gershom D. Van Roekel
Gershom Donald Van Roekel, 85, of Hull died Wednesday, August 7, at Sioux Center Community Hospital Nursing Facility in Sioux Center.
A memorial service will be Saturday, August 10, at 10 a.m. at the First Reformed Church in Hull with the Rev. Verlyn Boone officiating. Interment was at Hope Cemetery in Hull.
Van Roekel was born April 25, 1917, at Sioux Center, the son of John G. and Sarah (Te Grotenhuis) Van Roekel. He was raised at Sioux Center, where he graduated from high school and helped his father on die farm.
On February 26, 1941, he married Edna Alene Vermeer at Sioux Center. They farmed northeast of Hull. In July of 1969, they moved into Hull.
Gershom was a member of the First Reformed Church, where he was a teacher and longtime superintendent of die catechism classes. He also served as a Sunday School teacher. He enjoyed woodworking.
Survivors include his wife; five children and their spouses, Beth and Dwayne Westra of Fulda, Minnesota, Marilyn and Jim Rausch of Gunter, Texas, Carole and Walter Kilmanas of San Jose, California, Gene and Carol Van Roekel of Hull, and Linn and Bradley Ver Meer of Leawood, Kansas; eight grandchildren; 12 greatgrandchildren; and five brothers and their wives, Warren and Lillian Van Roekel of Sioux Center, Clinton and Flossie Van Roekel of George, Merle and Joann Van Roekel of Rock Rapids, the Rev. James and Erma Jean Van Roekel of Urbandale and Arlin and Vine Van Roekel of Sioux Center.
Memorials can be directed to the Sioux Center Hospice or the Sioux County Cancer Society.
Sioux Center News 2002-08-14.
Edna was born the daughter of Edward E. and Alida (Borgman) Vermeer, IA. She grew up in Sioux Center where she attended school. Edna was united in marriage to Gershom Van Roekel on February 26, 1941 in Sioux Center. After their marriage they lived on a farm northeast of Hull, IA until 1969 when they moved into Hull. Gershom died in August of 2002 and in 2003 Edna moved to Fulda to be near her family. She lived in the Maple Lawn campus where she passed away at the age of 96.
She was a member of the First Reformed Church in Slayton. Edna was active in her church over the years as a Sunday school teacher, accompanist for choirs and a Bible study leader. Edna enjoyed spending time with her family, immediate family celebrations; holiday gatherings and monthly brother and sister get togethers. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, sewing and being a 4-H leader.
Survivors include her children, Beth Westra, Marilyn (Jim) Rausch, Carole (Walter) Kilmanas, Gene (Carol) Van Roekel, and Linn (Bradley) Ver Meer; 8 grandchildren, Carla (Mark) Swift, Amy (Mark) Woitalewicz, Dayton (Kayla) Westra, Galen (Kim) Van Roekel, Lisa (Brian) DeBoer, Greg (Sara) Van Roekel, Ryan Van Roekel, Michael (Melissa) Ver Meer; 19 great-grandchildren; 4 brothers and sisters, Loyd Vermeer, Elnor Niffenegger, Cynthia Kaskey, and Ruth Bonnema; many nieces; nephews; other relatives and friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, husband, son-in-law, Dwayne Westra, great-granddaughter, Sarah Woitalewicz, 3 sisters, Aldine Van Roekel, Mildred Schutt and Hester Black and 3 brothers, Irwin Vermeer, Dr. Wallace Vermeer and Wayne Vermeer.
Funeral services were held from First Reformed Church Slayton, MN at on December 23, 2014 with Rev. Aaron Punt officiating. Special music provided by Kayla, Madeline and Claire Westra, Stephen and Sam Woitalewicz and Jack and Charlie Swift
Marilyn Joy Rausch, the daughter of Gershom and Edna Van Roekel was born December 17, 1942 in Hull, IA. She graduated from Boyden-Hull High School and received her Bachelor of Education from Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. She taught elementary school for 35 years in Minnesota, IA and Texas. Here teaching experience included a variety of rural and urban settings. After her teaching career, she and her husband own and managed their company, JMR Excavation.
Marilyn and James W. Rausch were married for 31 years. They shared time traveling, with family and doing gardening and landscaping around their home in Gunter, TX. She was an avid fan of the Cowboys and loved attending the games with her husband. She loved the annual weekends with her three sisters which allowed them to reminiscence, play games and just enjoy each other’s company.
Marilyn is survived by her husband Jim Rausch, stepdaughter Shauna (Ryan) Runkle of Spencer, IA, three grandchildren; Austin Dotson, Alyssa Dotson, and Jud Runkle, and great grandson; Cooper Dotson all of Spencer IA, her siblings; Beth Westra of Fulda MN, Carole (Walt) Kilmanas of Minnetrista MN, Gene (Carol) Van Roekel of Hull, IA, and Linn (Bradley) Ver Meer of Overland Park, KS.
Marilyn is preceded in death by her parents; Gershom and Edna Van Roekel, brother-in-law; Dwayne Westra and grandniece; Sarah Jane Woitalewicz.
Services will be held at 10:30 am Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Van Alstyne with Pastor Scott Holcomb-McLain officiating. Burial will follow at Hall Cemetery in Howe. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Scoggins Funeral Home.
Donations in memory of Marilyn Rausch can be made to the Marilyn Rausch Cancer Foundation account #4182016719. These funds will provide assistance to the families of children receiving care in the area pediatric cancer facilities.
A special thank you to Dr. Tammy Roque and her staff for all the loving care provided to Marilyn.