s/o Arthur Jacob Van Roekel / Elizabeth Van De Haar
p/o Joel A., Jay Christopher, Timothy Paul
Interment was at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. Casket bearers were Keith Blom, Mark Branderhorst, Robert Buyert, Jack Core, Richard Hiemstra, Robert Van Dyke, Larry Van Halen, Robert Vande Kamp and Wilbur Van Ryswyk. Honorary bearers were the grandchildren and Vermeer co-workers and ag dealers.
Harley was born on November 2, 1939 at the Mahaska County Hospital in Oskaloosa. He was the son of Arthur Jacob and Gretta Elizabeth "Betty" (Vande Haar) Van Roekel. The family farm home was in the Bethel church vicinity north of Pella on the old Sully road. Harley's father died at the young age of 30 when Harley was just two years old and his sister, Joyce, was three years old. The family then moved in with Betty's parents, Peter and Hendrika (Tysseling) Vande Haar, east of Pella. Harley was baptized and later made profession of his faith at the First Reformed Church in Pella.
He attended the Wheat Grow Country Grade School, which was two miles East of Pella on the New Sharon road, through the sixth grade. He then attended Junior High School and graduated from Pella High School in 1957. Following graduation he worked for Dykstra Transfer Company.
He married Nancy Jane De Cook on October 4, 1957 at the Ebenezer Reformed Church in Leighton. Pella has always been their home. In 1959, he began farming Al Wanders farm southeast of Pella. This was enjoyed for many years, moving around the corner from the Wanders farm in 1961. In 1972, they purchased and moved to their farm two miles southeast of Pella. In the fall of 1985, because of poor farm prices, the machinery was sold and the farm ground rented out. Harley then began working at Vermeer Manufacturing Company in Pella as a Territory Ag Sales Manager. Working hard and enjoying it was Harley's motto with farming and Vermeer Manufacturing Company. Dealers and co-workers from different states became his close friends.
Harley served as a Deacon, youth leader and shepherd at First Reformed Church. He had served on the Pella Baseball Little League Board, Pella Farmers Cooperative Board and was currently serving on the Pella Golf and Country Club Board. He had many friends who enjoyed his wonderful sense of humor. He enjoyed horseback riding, golf, playing cards and sports events. He loved life and recently said if given the opportunity he would not change a thing.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy; three sons and daughters-in-law, Joel and Paula (Manning) of Harvey, Jay and Toni (Beasley) of Pella, and Timothy and Sharon (Van Haaften) of Pella; five grandchildren; a sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and Edgar Epperly of Decorah; two sisters-in-law and their husbands, June and Willis Van Haaftern of Leighton and Marilyn and Wilbur R. Veenstra of Pella; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Hospice of Pella or First Reformed Church of Pella.
Arrangements were made by Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home.
Knoxville Journal Express, December 28, 2001