Jochems, James Alan 1957-2006

JOCHEMS, ROOSE, GEERDES, ROSSOW

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/2/2006 at 20:52:34

SULLY -- James Alan Jochems, 49, of rural Sully died June 15, 2006, at Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella.

A funeral service was Monday at Peoria Christian Reformed Church in Pella with the Rev. John Gorter officiating. Burial was at Peoria Cemetery in Pella. Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella handled arrangements.

Memorials may be designated for Peoria Christian Grade School or Pella Christian High School.

The son of Peter Richard and Betty Jeanne (Roose) Jochems, he was born May 25, 1957, in Oskaloosa. He attended Peorial Christian Grade School and graduated from Pella Christian High School in 1975. Following graduation, he attended Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa for two years and studied farm mechanics.

He worked at Vermeer Sales and Service of Iowa in Pella as a mechanic in the shop and eventually became the service manager.

On Oct. 10, 1987, he married Barbara Wynne Geerdes at Faith Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center. On May 11, he underwent surgery for an aortic aneurysm and remained hospitalized until his death.

He enjoyed remodeling his home, doing electric wiring, plumbing, dry wall, staining and painting. He also enjoyed learning new skills, including glass etching, building cement block retaining walls, wooden tractor models, computers and other electronics. He was a member of Peoria Christian Reformed Church and was serving his second term on the Peoria Christian School Board.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Rachel and Valeria Jochems; his parents of rural Pella; a brother and sister-in-law, Gary John and Carol Jochems of Sully; a sister and brother-in-law, Beverly LuAnn and Larry Rossow of Newton; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents.

The Newton (IA) Daily News, June 22, 2006