VAN DEN TOP, Gerrit John 1920-2014

VANDENTOP, BURGGRAAF, BUITENDYK

Posted By: K.L. Kittleson
Date: 8/9/2014 at 19:18:39

Life Legacy

Rock Valley, Iowa - Gerrit John Van Den Top, 94, of Rock Valley, Iowa passed away Sunday, August 3, 2014, at Hegg Memorial Health Center. Funeral service will be 11 am Thursday, August 7, 2014, at Netherlands Reformed Congregation, Rock Valley. Burial will follow at Richland Cemetery, Inwood, Iowa. Visitation with family present will be 6-7:30 pm Wednesday, August 6, 2014, at Porter Funeral Home, Rock Valley. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Netherlands Reformed Christian School or Whispering Heights of Rock Valley. Condolences may be left for the family at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Gerrit was born July 20, 1920, on the homestead near Alvord, Iowa, son of Jacob and Minnie (Burggraaf) Van Den Top. On July 30, 1941, he married Jeannette Buitendyk at Rock Valley. Together they lived at Grand Rapids, Michigan, before moving to Northwest Iowa where Gerrit farmed and worked for Buitendyk Brothers driving truck and shelling corn. They retired and moved to Rock Valley in 1985 and in July 2013 to Whispering Heights.

Surviving relatives include his wife of 73 years, Jeannette; children Jim (Hermina) Van Den Top of Rock Valley, Jay (Joy) Van Den Top of Larchwood, Iowa, Milton (Deanne) Van Den Top of Lynden, Washington, Pat (Len) De Visser of Allendale, Michigan, Karen (Bob) Van Zweden of West Milford, Nnew Jersey; 17 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; siblings: Minard (Cora) Van Den Top, Pete Van Den Top, Alice (Ed) Van Ginkel all of Doon, Iowa, Elmer (Grace) Van Den Top of Rock Valley; sisters-in-law Arlene Van Den Top of Rock Valley, Ellen Van Den Top of Lynden, Washington, Gert Van Den Top of Hull, Iowa, and Ann Baas of Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Gerrit was preceded in death by brothers William, Albert, Andrew, and John Van Den Top; and granddaughter Kirsten Van Zweden.

Source: Porter Funeral Home website