Verhoef, William Jr. 1943-2013

VERHOEF, GRIFFIOEN, BAXA, BENTLEY, VANDER KROL, ZYLSTRA, JANSEN, VAN HAAFTEN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/17/2015 at 21:27:19

Obituary for William Verhoef Jr.

Willem Verhoef was born in Baambrugge, Netherlands on April 11, 1943 to Willem Verhoef and Neetlje Johanna Griffioen. In 1949, at the age of 6, he immigrated to the United States with his parents and two eldest sisters. They lived in Iowa and became dairy farmers. He started first grade in a school in Tracy, Iowa, where his teacher, Miss Margaret Mickey, taught him to speak English. Eventually, he and his parents moved to a farm near Pella, Iowa, where he attended Pella Christian Schools. He graduated from Pella Christian High School in 1961.

At that time he became a naturalized citizen and his first name was changed to ‘William’. After graduation, he joined the Navy and was stationed in San Diego, CA. He was an electrician aboard an aircraft carrier, the USS Bon Homme Richard. He was in the service at the beginning of the Vietnam War and during the Cuban Missile Crisis. During the Vietnam War, he was stationed off the coast of Vietnam, where jets were launched from the USS Bon Homme Richard to complete various missions. He was honorably discharged in the summer of 1965.

After serving his country, he found a job at an appliance store in Oskaloosa, Iowa and worked there for six months. In early 1966, he moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was an installer/repairman for Northwestern Bell. In the summer of 1966, he met his future wife, Shirley Ann Baxa, when he installed a phone for her at her new apartment. On June 7, 1968, they were married in Marion, Iowa at the Methodist Church by Rev. John Piersma. After they were married, Bill quit Northwestern Bell and went to school at Des Moines Area Community College to obtain his degree. Six months later he decided to leave school and get a full time job to support his future family.

In early 1969, he started at Square D in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and worked in Quality Control building circuit breakers. Their first child, William David, was born on June 26, 1969. In 1971, Square D offered him a job transfer, so Bill and Shirley decided to move to Lincoln, Nebraska. They lived there for one year and then moved to a farm near Leighton, Iowa to fulfill Bill’s dream of owning a farm. For the next 23 years, they farmed a 160 acres together and raised hogs, cattle, corn and alfalfa. During that time they were blessed with two additional children, Stacy Renee and James Douglas. In addition to farming, Bill held various jobs to supplement their farm income. One of his longest held positions was at the Pella Power Plant as a Maintenance Technician.

In 1995, Bill and Shirley sold their operation and retired from farming. They moved to an acreage near Otley, Iowa, where they have lived for 18 years. In late 2011, Bill began to show signs of muscle weakness and was diagnosed with ALS in July 2012. He went to be with the Lord on June 22, 2013, at his home in Otley, Iowa, surrounded by his beloved family.

Bill is survived by his wife, Shirley, his three children, their spouses and nine grandchildren.
William and Jeanne Verhoef of Andover, Minnesota
Rachel, Liam, Ben and Jonah

Stacy and Rev. Michael Bentley of Hollandale, Minnesota
Adam, Katie, Anna, Samuel and Caleb

James Verhoef of Apple Valley, Minnesota

He is also survived by his four siblings:
Joan Vander Krol-Zylstra of Pella, Iowa
Jeanette Jansen of Pella, Iowa
Harry John of Pella, Iowa
Marjorie Van Haaften of Otley, Iowa

He was preceded in death by his parents, Willem and Neeltje Verhoef and his brothers Gary and Theodore. Bill was a loving husband, father and grandfather who led his children and grandchildren by example with a life of Christian love and stewardship to the glory of our God.

Funeral services will be held
Thursday, June 27, 2013 at 11:00 a.m.
Covenant Reformed Church, Pella, Iowa
Interment will follow the luncheon at Evergreen Cemetery at Leighton, Iowa with military rites.

Visitation with the family present will be Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home. Open visitation will be Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be designated for the Covenant Reformed Church at Pella, Iowa ~ The Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home, Pella, Iowa June 2013.