BAKKER, John G. 1928-2009

BAKKER, TERHARK, PURSCHKE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/6/2010 at 20:34:06

John G. Bakker, age 80, of Aplington, died Wednesday, July 22, 2009, at the Presbyterian Village, Ackley, of bone cancer. He was born August 25, 1928, the son of Harm and Olga Ter Hark Bakker in German Township, Grundy County, near Austinville, Iowa. John attended country schools in Butler and Grundy Counties and was a U.S. Army Veteran of the Korean War, stationed in Heilbronn, Germany.

John was united in marriage with Waltruad (Trudy) Purschke on September 3, 1955, at the First Presbyterian Church in Toronto, Canada. John had been employed by the Grundy County Road Maintenance Department, trucked, worked at Gerdes Implement in Aplington and owned and operated John’s Tractor Repair in Aplington until his passing.

John was a member of First Reformed Church and transferred to Bethel Reformed Church in 2004. He was a lifetime member Aplington Amvets Post #102. He enjoyed vacationing and fishing in Minnesota, traveling overseas, attending Army reunions, riding in his pickup through the country and spending time with the gang at Aplington Feed & Grain.

John was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Fred Bakker.

John is survived by his wife of 53 years, Trudy Bakker, Aplington; two brothers, Herman (Helen) Bakker, Aplington, Iowa and Marlyn (Renate) Bakker, Cedar Falls, Iowa; three sisters, Alice Holm, New Hartford, Iowa; Grace Merfeld, West Des Moines, Iowa and Okelene (Edward) Heuer, Allison, Iowa; a brother-in-law, Alois Purschke, Switzerland and 19 nieces and nephews.

Family Prayer Services will be from 7:00 to 7:30 p.m., Friday at the Redman-Schwartz Funeral Chapel in Aplington.

Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the Redman-Schwartz Funeral Chapel in Aplington. Inurnment will be in Pleasant View Cemetery, Aplington, at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to the Des Moines Veteran’s Hospital and Des Moines Veterans Hospital.

Redman-Schwartz Funeral Chapel in Aplington is in charge of arrangements.