BOEKHOFF, Ernest Henry 1920-2001

BOEKHOFF, VANDERWERF, BOELTS, HIPPEN, SMITH, CLARK

Posted By: Jeffrey R. Phillips (email)
Date: 2/10/2004 at 20:03:15

Ernest Boekhoff
By: 07/09/2001

Jan. 29, 1920-July 3, 2001

ACKLEY-Ernest Henry Boekhoff, 81, of Aplington, died Tuesday, July 3, 2001, at the Presbyterian Village in Ackley. Services were held Friday, July 6, at West Friesland Presbyterian Church in Ackley, with burial in the West Friesland Cemetery. Rev. Randy Crane officiated.

Ernest was born Jan. 29, 1920, in Mayhew Lake, Minn., to John and Mary Vanderwerf Boekhoff. As a child, Ernest moved with his family to Iowa and attended Colfax-4 country school in rural Wellsburg. Ernest served in the United States Army during World War II, where he was a prisoner of war and earned four Bronze Star medals, one Silver Star for surviving five major battles and the Purple Heart. On Jan. 31, 1947, he married Ruth Boelts at the West Friesland Presbyterian Church in rural Ackley. They farmed in the Wellsburg area until 1958 when they moved to a farm near Aplington. In 1982, Ernest retired and they moved to Aplington where he wworked at Ol's Gld Seed Company and enjoyed fishing, carpentry work, and spending time with his family and friends. He moved to the Presbyterian Village in Ackley in 1992. He was a member of the West Friesland Presbyterian Church and the Aplington AMVETS.

Ernest is survived by two sons: Mervin and his wife, Kathy, of Iowa Falls, and Lynn and his wife, Susan, of Park City, Kan.; three grandchildren, Melissa and T.J.and Lynn Boekhoff and wife, Susan, and his daughter, Jamie of Park City; Kan.; three sisters; Grace Hippen and her husband, Delbert, of Wellsburg, Esther Smith and her husband, Dale, of Conrad, and Marlys Clark of Keokuk; two brothers, George Boekhoff and his wife, Betty and Arnold Boekhoff and his wife, Delores, all of Wellsburg; and one sister-in-law, Carrie Boekhoff of Wellsburg. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth; his parents; a sibling who died at birth; six brothers; and eight sisters.

Schwartz Funeral Chapel of Aplington was in charge of the arrangements.

©Iowa Falls Times-Citizen 2004