VAN ROEKEL, JOHN G. A. AND MARTHA (WIERDA)
John and Martha Van Roekel have their roots long established in the Sioux Center area. They attended school in Sioux Center and after their marriage February 20, 1942, they farmed one mile north and one and a fourth mile east of Sioux Center. Martha taught school in the country school in Garfield and Welcome township for five years, and later ran the cafe in the Tri State Sales Barn in Sioux Center for twenty years. After retiring from farming John and Martha built a new home at 338 Second Street N.E. in Sioux Center. John continued helping on the farm run by his sons Larry and Michael. John also does some custom lawn work with his mowing tractor. Martha enjoys various hobbies which include painting china and making dolls.
John G.A. Van Roekel was born February 14, 1918 Sioux Center to Geurt "Gerrit" Van Roekel and Hattie Vande Berg. (See their separate story.) On February 20, 1942 he married Martha Wierda. Martha was born January 26, 1920 to Martin Wierda and Ida De Lange. (See Martin Wierda's separate story.)
John G.A. Van Roekel Family. Back row L-R: Mike Van Roekel,Larry Van Roekel, Stanley Oordt
and Jeffery Harcum. Middle row: Judy (Mrs. Mike Van Roekel), Carolyn (Mrs. Larry Van Roekel),
Faye Van Roekel, Virginia (Mrs. Stanley Oordt), and Janet (Mrs. Jeffery Harcum).Front row L-R:
Shawna Van Roekel, Martha (Mrs. John G.A. Van Roekel),Chad Van Roekel, Eric Oordt, John
G.A. Van Roekel, and Meryl Harcum. Four children in front: Joshua Van Roekel, Brian and
Teresa Oordt, and Andrew Harcum.
John and Martha Van Roekel are the parents of four children who are as follows.
Larry Van Roekel was born February 23, 1947 and he married Carolyn De Boer on July 8, 1967. Carolyn was born November of 1946. Larry works for EMW Groschoop Inc. of Sioux Center. Larry and Carolyn Van Roekel are the parents of two children, Faye L. Van Roekel born February 25, 1974 and Chad J. Van Roekel born April 21, 1977.
Janet S. Van Roekel was born January 17, 1951 and she married Jeffery Harcum on May 12, 1973. Jeffery Harcum was born April 4, 1950. Janet graduated from the College of Pharmacy at the University of Iowa, and is the Assistant Director of Pharmacy Services at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center in Sioux City, IA. Jeff Harcum works for Siouxland Metropolitan Council (SIMPCO) in Sioux City, IA. Janet and Jeff Harcum. have two children, Meryl J. Harcum. born January 8, 1982 and Andrew Neal Harcum born October 18, 1984.
Virginia Van Roekel was born April 19, 1955, and she married Stanley Oordt. Stanley Oordt was born July 16, 1949. Virginia bas a Home Economics Degree from Westmar College, and Stan is an electrician. They live south of Sioux Center. Virginia and Stan Oordt have three children: Eric M. Oordt born December 26, 1977, Brian S. Oordt born May 27, 1980 and Teresa Oordt born May 4, 1982.
Michael J. Van Roekel was bom. February 22, 1961, and he married Judy Boersma. Judy was born. March 18, 1960. Michael works for Vande Berg Scales as well as does same farming on the farm where they live. Judy works at Casey's Bakery. Mike and Judy have two children, Shawna L. Van Roekel born July 3, 1980 and Joshua John Van Roekel born January 21, 1985.
By John G. A. Van Roekel
Martha Van Roekel, 82, of Sioux Center died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2002, at her residence.
Memorial services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center, with the Revs. Van Rathburn and Marilyn Rensink officiating. Burial will be 9:45 am. Tuesday in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center.
Mrs. Van Roekel was born Jan. 26, 1920, in Rock Valley, Iowa, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Wierda. She attended school in Sioux Center, graduating with a Normal Training Teacher's Certificate, and attended Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa. She taught in several rural schools.
She married John G.A. Van Roekel on Feb. 20, 1942. Their married life was lived on a farm near Sioux Center. They later retired to the city of Sioux Center.
She was a longtime member of Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center, where she was a member of the RCWM.
Survivors include her husband; four children, Larry of Sioux Center, Janet and her husband, Jeff Harcum of Sioux City, Virginia and her husband, Stan Oordt of Sioux Center, and Mike and his wife, Judy (Boersma) of Sioux Center; 12 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two brothers and their wives, Ray and Peg, and Marvin and Lorraine, all of Sioux Center; two sisters and their husbands, Delia and Henry Franken of Sioux Center, and Myrtle and Clarence Kid of Orange City, Iowa; and three sisters-in-law, Lucille Wierda and Frieda Wierda, both of Sioux Center, and Lucille Wierda of Orange City.
She was preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Tom, Lewis and Bernard; and two sisters, Jane Duits and Henrietta Parsonson.
Sioux County Capital Democrat 2002-01-31.
John G. A. Van Roekel
2/14/1918 - Friday, January 28, 2011
John G. A. Van Roekel, 92, of Sioux Center, IA died Friday, January 28, 2011 at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center.
A memorial service will be held Monday at 11 AM at Central Reformed Church with Rev. R. Van Rathbun officiating.
John G.A. Van Roekel was born February 14th, 1918, to Geurt "Gerrit" and Hattie (Vande Berg) Van Roekel and was born on a farm in Sioux County.
He attended school in Sioux Center, where he met the love of his life, Martha Wierda. John and Martha were wed on February 20th, 1942 and after a short stay in California, settled down on the family farm in Sioux County where they farmed and raised four children.
Their life centered around their faith in God and around their church life at Central Reformed Church, enjoying their many brothers and sisters and friends in the church.
Joining Martha in a business venture, John and Martha ran a successful restaurant, the Tri State Café, in addition to farming.
After retirement and sale of the restaurant, John and Martha built a new home in Sioux Center, and began a new phase of 'city' living. John delighted in going to the farm to help his sons Larry and Mike, operating the tractors, and freely giving advice and counsel.
John and Martha both enjoyed hand crafting items, whereby John will be remembered for wood working, including frames, trays, wooden stair shelves and doll houses, and Martha for her hand made dolls and painted china.
After Martha's death in 2002, John continued to stay busy with his Harper Broom business and truly enjoyed visiting with each and every one of his customers.
John was a wonderful conversationalist and was always willing to listen and tell stories to everyone he met. He worked hard in his life and always counseled his children that 'work never killed anyone.'
John dearly loved his family and even in his last days, his face would light up when those great grand children would come running in and give him a big hug, or the last picture that they had colored for him. The children could always expect his 'hot diggity dog' response, a big smile and an invitation to have a cookie or a piece of candy. John's legacy will long be cherished by his family and friends and he will be keenly missed.
John is survived by his four children, Larry and his dearest friend Beth Finch of Sioux Center, Janet and her husband Jeffrey Harcum of Hinton, Virginia and her husband Stan Oordt of Sioux Center, and Mike and his wife Judy (Boersma) of Sioux Center. John's grandchildren and great grandchildren include: Faye (Michael) De Smit and children Allie, Jasmine, and Christopher; Chad (Melissa) Van Roekel and children Ginger and Cyla; Meryl (Jon) Anderson and children Alexis and Breckin; Andrew (Rachel) Harcum and Lorelai; Eric (Rachelle) Oordt and children Jenna and Emily; Brian Oordt and special friend Kristin Franken, Teresa (Kyle) Blankers; Shawna (Nathan) Vander Plaats; and Joshua Van Roekel and children Aspen and Tristan. John is also survived by his sister and close friend, Jean Mieras of Sheldon, just 3 years his senior, and many wonderful nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his wife Martha, by his great granddaughter Serenity Van Roekel, and by two brothers and four sisters.
Memorial Funeral Home, Sioux Center, Ia., obit.