BOUWMAN, Thomas Marinus 1917-2006

BOUWMAN, SMIT, VANDYKE, VIS

Posted By: Diane M Scott (email)
Date: 12/16/2012 at 14:20:40

Thomas Marinus Bouwman – June 22, 1917 – March 10, 2006

ROCK RAPIDS, Iowa - Thomas M. Bouwman, age 88 of Rock Rapids, IA, formerly of Lester, IA, died Friday, March 10, 2006, at the Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital in Rock Rapids.

Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, March 14th, 2006, at the First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids, IA. Burial will follow at the Hillside Cemetery in Lester, IA. Visitation will be Monday, March 13th, 2006, from 3 to 8 pm with the family present from 6 -8 PM at the First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids. Roste Funeral Home of Rock Rapids is in charge of arrangements. Memorial may be directed to the Edward Bouwman American Legion, Post No. 683, Lester, IA.

Thomas Marinus Bouwman was born on June 22, 1917 in Alvord, Iowa, the son of John and Jacoba (Smit) Bouwman. Thomas enlisted into the U.S. Army on April 8th, 1941. He was a part of the 109th Engineers Battalion Company C, 34th Division out of Sturgis, SD. He served as a Corporal in World War II. During the war, Tom was captured in Tunisia, North Africa on February 19th, 1943 and became a Prisoner of War in Germany for 26 months. He was released on April 17th, 1945 and was awarded the Bronze Medal of Honor and achieved the rank of Sergeant before being honorably discharged from the Army four months later in August, 1945. On July 14, 1952, Thomas was united in marriage to Gertie (Van Dyke) Reemts at Lester, Iowa.

He was a 60 year member of the Edward Bouwman American Legion Post #683 in Lester.

Tom enjoyed fishing and farming, family dinners on Sundays, and POW reunions in the Black Hills. He was recently awarded the Veteran of the Year Award by the Rock Rapids Community Affairs Corporation.

Tom is survived by his wife, Gertie, of Rock Rapids; two sons, Ronald (Jacqueline) Reemts of Lander, WY, and Thomas, Jr. (Sheryl) Bouwman of Rock Rapids, IA; three daughters, Brenda Vis and fiancee Randy Rosenboom of Rock Rapids, IA, Beverly (Ronald) Rosenboom of Sturgis, SD, and Beth Bouwman of Brandon, SD; 12 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.

The Alliance Times Herald, Alliance, Nebraska, March 21, 2006