Van Gorkom, Hattie 1907-1999

VAN GORKOM, VANDER PUTTE, KLING, LOKERSE, FAABORG, WALLIN, WOLFE, BERKUM, TEN HAGEN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/28/2014 at 09:16:41

Hattie Van Gorkom, 92

Hattie Vander Putte, the second of six children that were born to Martinus Henry and Lucy Hannah Kling Vander Putte, was born on July 29, 1907 in Jasper County near Galesburg. She attended the brown Country Grade School near her parents farm home. Hattie lived on the family farm with her parents and family until she was 38 years old. During this time, she did house cleaning, painting and wall papering, and was employed at the Vernon Company in Newton.

On Nov. 15, 1945 she was united in marriage with George van Gorkom at the Lutheran Church parsonage in Kellogg. Hattie acquired three step-daughters: Jeanne, June and Georgia at this time and following her marriage, two children were born: Kay Louise and Douglas Craig. Kay died in infancy in 1946 at the age of five days.

Hattie and George lived in Pella, all of their married life. He passed away on Feb. 24, 1957 at the age of 62 years.

She was a devoted homemaker, single parent mother and for several years worked as a cook at the Pella Community High School. She passed away on Dec. 21, at the Pella regional Health Center at the age of 92 years, four months, and 23 days.

Those left to cherish her memory are her son, Douglas Van Gorkom and his wife, Susan of Pella; two grandchildren: Kimberly Sue and Bradley Jay Van Gorkom; her three step-daughters and their spouses: Jeanne Lokerse of Marion, Ill.; June and Edward Faaborg of Johnston; Georgia and Cornie Van Berkum of Marion; six step-grandchildren: Judy and Tom Wallin; Francey and Tim Wolfe; Jim and Joan Van Berkum; Tom and Kathy Van Berkum; Jayne and Jeff Myhre; Julie and Joel Cornelius; 16 step-great-grandchildren; 5 step-great-great grandchildren. Of her original family, Hattie leaves just one brother-in-law, Robert L. Ten Hagen of Galesburg.

She was preceded in death beside her husband, George and her infant daughter Kay, by one step-great-grandson, Jeff Wallin; a son-in-law Frank (Bud) Lokerse; her parents and all her brothers and sisters: a brother, Phillip John Vander Putte; a brother, Lester, who died in infancy; a brother, Elmer Vander Putte; a sister, Viola Mae (Robert L.) Ten Hagen; and a sister, Blanche Elgenia Vander Putte. Hattie was baptized and confirmed at the St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church near Sully.

Funeral services were held Friday, Dec. 24 at 1 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Sully. Rev. Allan Thoreson officiated. Casket Bearers were Bradley Van Gorkom, Donald Vander Putte, David Criswell, Corey Goodyk, Jeff Vander Molen and Jim Van Berkum. ~ Newspaper Unknown, possibly The Des Moines (IA) Register or The Newton (IA) Daily News.