KRAAYENBRINK, DICK AND VIRGIE (OVERLANDER)
Dick Kraayenbrink was born on May 8, 1937 at Sioux Center, la. son of Ben Kraayenbrink and Jeanette (Van Roekel). He attended country schools for the first eight years. He has two brothers, Henry and Alvin and four sisters, Darlene, Bernice, Joyce and Linda. He attended Sioux Center High and played on the 1955 team that went to the State Tournament. After school he enlisted in the U.S. Army and went to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. for basic training. Later, he was at Fort Bliss at El Paso, Texas.
Virginia Mae Overlander, the third daughter of Fred and Ada (Zoeterman) was born on March 26, 1936 at Sioux Center, lowa. Her sisters, are Evelyn (Mrs. Robert Moyer) and Ruth (Mrs. George Steininger). Virgie, as she was called, attended Sioux Center schools from kindergarten through high school. After high school she attended N.W. Jr. College, in Qrange City, Iowa, for two years, taking teacher training. Virgie and Dick met at the Sieperda skating rink, and were married on June 2, 1956, at the army chapel at Fort Bliss. Their first son, Daniel, was born in the army hospital on June 28, 1957.
After being discharged from the army, Dick farmed a couple years with his father, near Sioux Center, Ia. Their second son Steven, was born March 24, 1959 in the Sioux Center Hospital.
In 1960, they moved to Bellflower, Calif., where Dick put up awnings on mobile homes for a couple years.
Dick Kraayenbrink Family in 1977: Dick,
Dan, Mike, Rachel, Steve, Virgie
Moving back to the farm near Inwood, Iowa, took place in 1962. Their third son Michael, was born on his mother's birthday on March 26, 1963, at the Canton-Inwood Hospital. Too many acres, back problems and low prices drove them back to Bunny Calif. Dick worked in the awning business again. Their only daughter Rachel Ann was born on Jan. 23, 1967 at Bellwood Hospital in Bellflower, California.
Virgie and Dick received some inheritance from a bachelor uncle and decided, with the Lord's direction, to buy an acreage near Sioux Center, Iowa, not intending to move back right away. But a job was offered to Dick, so it was back to the midwest.
Our family are sport enthusiasts, so living back in Iowa was a plus. All three boys and Rachel played a lot of sports and set some school records. Steve played basketball at Central College in Pella, Iowa, was most valuable player and a 1000 point club member. Mike had a good career at Northwestern College at Orange City, Iowa.
Dick worked at the Coop Elevator, was with Living Industries, and A and K Structures. Many houses, Dr. Estes and Boeyink dentist office, Oostra, Bierma and Schouten law office and Magic Wheels skating rink were some of his projects.
Their first son Dan, graduated from S.C.H.S. in 1975. His was the first class graduating from the new high school. He started in construction with his dad, later farmed near Inwood, Ia. He is associated with Vant Hall Builders in Pella, Ia. at present. He married Doreen Kleinwolterink, daughter of Harold, on June 30, 1978 at Sioux Center, Ia. They have three children: Lindsey, who was born in Sioux Center on April 9, 1981, Micah, born on April 23, 1985 and Kiley born on April 7, 1989 at Pella, Iowa. A little son, Joshua, was still born on June 23, 1982.
Debra Boone, daughter of Marvin, and Steve ware married on Nov. 18, 1978 in Sioux Center, Iowa. He was a junior at Central College in Pella, lowa. Their first daughter Jessica Mae was born on April 16, 1982. Steve is working at Marion County Bank in Pella. Two more girls were born in Pella; Heather Kaye, on June 29, 1985 and Erin Lynn on November 26, 1988.
Mike graduated from Northwestern College at Orange City, Iowa. He has done various jobs; construction, plumbing and heating. He married Laurie Ackerman, daughter of Gerald, on Sept. 3, 1988, at Valley Springs, S.D. Born two months early, on Feb. 28, 1989, was their tiny 3 1/2 lbs. daughter, Katlyn Adrianna. They live in Grandma (Ada) Overlander's former home in Sioux Center, but plans to move to Pella might materialize.
Rachel is a Senior at Iowa State in Ames, Iowa. She transferred from Northwestern at Orange City, after two years. Her last three summers were spent in New York, working for Services Unlimited. She's majoring in finance, so is interviewing at this time.
Dick and Virgie have lived in Sioux Center for the last 22 years. Dick is the production manager at E.M.W. Groschoppe and Virgie bas been a caregiver, for both children and the elderly.
by Virginia M. Kraayenbrink
Dick Kraayenbrink was born on May 8, 1937, in Sioux Center, Iowa, son of Ben and Jeanette (Van Roekel) Kraayenbrink. He attended country schools for the first eight years. He attended Sioux Center High and played on the 1955 team that went to the State Tournament. After school he enlisted in the U.S. Army and went to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for basic training. Later, he was at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.
Dick met Virginia Mae Overlander at the Sieperda skating rink, and they were married on June 2, 1956, at the Fort Bliss Army Chapel in El Paso, Texas. Their first son, Daniel, was born in the army hospital on June 28, 1957. After being discharged from the army, Dick farmed a couple years with his father near Sioux Center. Their second son Steven, was born March 24, 1959, in Sioux Center. In 1960, they moved to Bellflower, California, where Dick put up awnings on mobile homes for a couple years. Moving back to the farm near Inwood, Iowa, took place in 1962. Their third son Michael, was born on his mother's birthday on March 26, 1963, at the Canton-Inwood Hospital. Too many acres, back problems and low prices drove them back to California, where Dick worked in the awning business again. Their only daughter Rachel Ann was born on Jan. 23, 1967, in Bellflower, California. Virgie and Dick bought an acreage near Sioux Center, not intending to move back right away, but a job was offered to Dick, so it was back to the Midwest. They were a family of sport enthusiasts, so living back in Iowa was a plus. Dick worked at the Coop Elevator, was with Living Industries, A & K Structures, and EW Groschopp Manufacturing Company. Most of their years they called Sioux Center their home. In 1993, they moved to Pella to be closer to families. Faith, family and friends meant everything to him. He was always supporting and encouraging of all of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in their activities. He attended countless events with such joy and gratitude. Dick loved their time after retirement with SOWERS (Servants On Wheels Ever Ready). They traveled across the U.S. and helped with mission projects. He built a wagon that he pulled with his 1937 John Deere tractor, and blessed many people with memorable rides.
Dick was a member of Liberty Evangelical Free Church where he served as an elder and helped oversee the building project of the new church facility. He loved to share his faith with love, grace and wisdom. This was so important to him to bring people to know and love our Lord.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Virgie and their family.
He is also survived by his brother Alvin Kraayenbrink and his sisters, Bernice Vander Stouwe, and Joyce Brown.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ben and Jeanette Kraayenbrink, his sisters: Linda Lyons and Darlene Moss, his brother Harry Kraayenbrink, and his grandson Joshua Kraayenbrink.
[Garden Chapel Funeral Home web site]