VAN ROEKEL, LLOYD AND ELMA (VAN DE BERG)
Lloyd and Elma (Van De Berg) Van Roekel.now reside at 335 7th Ave. S.E., after farming near Newkirk, IA, for 27 years. Prior to that they lived on the Van Roekel family acreage, where they farmed after Lloyd had served in the armed forces for two years.
Lloyd was born to Albert G. and Cena (Doornwaard) Van Roekel on May 16, 1929. His parents owned a dairy business, Lloyd helped make deliveries throughout the town daily, and sometimes two or three times daily. His father suffered from a heart condition for several years, and when he passed away in 1947, Lloyd farmed for his mother. He graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1948, and was reared in the Central Reformed Church. He has one brother, Gordon.
Elma was born on the farm one mile east of Sioux Center, to Henry R. and Della (Kroon) Van De Berg on May 6, 1932. She attended rural school, Welcome #8, and then graduated from Sioux Center High School. After graduating she worked at Van's Jewelry and then was employed at First National Bank. She has four sisters and three brothers: Verna, Harold, Eldora, Hendrene, Ralph, Wilmer, and Ardith. She was reared in the First Reformed Church.
Lloyd and Elma were married on June 28, 1951. In October of that same year, Lloyd had to sell out and report for two years of military service, all of which was spent at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Elma joined him there in August of 1952.
Lloyd and Elma Van Roekel
They have three children; Mark Douglas, Paul Vincent, and Janet Lynn. The children were all born in Sioux Center, they attended and graduated from Floyd Valley High School in Alton, IA and IA State University in Ames, IA.
Mark Douglas Van Roekel was born November 25, 1953, married Brenda De Wild on December 4, 1976. They lived at Fort Dodge, IA, where Mark was a partner in a hog operation, after graduating from IA State University with a degree in Farm Operation and Agriculture Business. Brenda taught school there. In 1988, they moved to the home farm near Newkirk, IA, with their two daughters, Sara Ann and Jessica Mae. Brenda now teaches elementary music in the Boyden Hull Schools.
Paul Vincent Van Roekel was born on December 21, 1955. He graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine in 1980, and practiced in Wells Minnesota for two years, before joining a practice in Sioux Center. He married Linda Holwerda on November 25, 1988; they live near Sioux Center with their son, Heath. Linda is a surgical nurse at the Sioux Center Community Hospital.
Janet Lynn Van Roekel was born on November 5, 1959. She received her Home Economics degree in 1982. On June 12th of that year, she married Brian Amundson. They reside in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where Brian is an electrical engineer with Northern States Power. They have two children, Heather Nichole and Eric Bradley.
4-H was an important part of the Van Roekel Family life; all three children ware active in their local clubs, and participated in out-of-state activities; Janet also earned a trip to the National 4-H Congress in Chicago, Lloyd was a club leader of the Floyd Falcons for several years. Elma served as secretary-treasurer for the Sioux County Youth Fair Board from 1969 to 1979.
Lloyd and Elma are members of the Newkirk Reformed Church where Lloyd has been a deacon and is presently serving as an elder.
by Elma R. Van Roekel
Elma Van Roekel
Elma Van Roekel, 83, of Sioux Center, IA, died Monday January 11th, 2016, at Sioux Center Health.
A visitation will be held on Friday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 5-7PM at the New Life Reformed Church of Sioux Center.
A prayer service for family and friends will be held on Saturday at 10:00AM at the New Life Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 11:00AM at the New Life Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Dr. Ray Tilstra and Rev. Dan Kruse officiating.
The Van Roekel family prefers memorials to Justice For All of Rock Valley.
Arrangements entrusted to Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.
Complete obituary at www.MFHonline.com.
Elma Ruth Van Roekel was born May 6, 1932 to Henry R. and Della (Kroon) Van De Berg at Sioux Center, IA. She was a graduate of Sioux Center High School. Elma married Lloyd Van Roekel on June 28, 1951 at her parent's home.
As a young woman Elma worked at Van’s Jewelry and later First National Bank while Lloyd served in the US Army. For a time Elma joined Lloyd at Ft. Knox, Kentucky where she worked at a civilian payroll office.
Following Lloyd’s discharge from the army, they returned to Sioux Center where Elma was a member of Central Reformed Church. Later they settled near Newkirk, IA where they farmed for many years. Elma was a member of Newkirk Reformed Church and it was there she began singing as a member of the Melodaires Mixed Quartet for 37 years. In the 1980’s Elma and Lloyd purchased their home in Sioux Center where Elma became an active member of New Life Reformed Church.
Over the years Elma served as the secretary of the Sioux County Fair Board. She volunteered for the Sioux Center Chamber of Commerce welcoming 'newcomers' to Sioux Center and also was involved with Justice For All in Rock Valley. For many years Elma was known as an encourager to many through her many prayers and cards to others. She loved music and enjoyed being around people, especially her family.
Surviving is her husband of 64 years, Lloyd Van Roekel of Sioux Center; two sons and daughters-in-law: Mark and Brenda Van Roekel of Orange City and Paul and Linda Van Roekel of Sioux Center; daughter, Janet and Brian Amundson of Eau Claire, WI, six grandchildren and their spouses, 4 great grandchildren; two brothers and sisters-in-law: Ralph and Mary Van De Berg of Sioux Center and Wilmer and Wynetta Van De Berg of Sioux Center; three sisters and brothers-in-law: Verna and Arend Sandbulte of Duluth, MN, Hendrene and John Zoet of Hull, Ardith and Verdean Wynja of Sioux Center; sisters-in-law: Joane Van De Berg of Luverne, MN and Lois Van Roekel of Sioux Center.
Elma was preceded in death by her parents; sister and brother-in-law, Eldora and Harold Van Zandbergen; brother, Harold Van De Berg and brother-in-law, Gordon Van Roekel.