Roelofs, Harold

ROELFS, GYSBERS, HOWARD, BAKER

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/18/2005 at 20:39:20

Funeral services for Harold Roelofs, 90, of Pella were held February 1 at the Second Reformed Church in Pella, the Rev. Steve Mathonnet-Vander Well officiated. Music was provided by soloist Rev. Sophie Mathonnett-Vander Well, Dutch Psalms played by organist Dr. Davis Folkerts and Dr. Mary Stark, reader.

A funeral service was also held February 2 at the Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley, Minnesota, the Dr. William A. Rowen officiated with Rev. Norman Witt, former pastor and friend, and Mrs. Suzanne Eberle, accompanist.

Interment was at the Spring Valley Cemetery in Spring Valley, Minn. Casket bearers were "His Family".

Harold Eugene Roelofs was born on February 14, 1912 at Preston, Minn. He was the first of three children that were born to John and Alyda Gysbers Roelofs. His father, John, grew up in Fillmore County, Minn. and his mother, Alyda, was from Alto, Wisc.

Harold received his elementary and high school education at Preston. Following his high school graduation, Harold began a teaching career at schools there prior to his enrollment at Central College in Pella in 1936. Harold graduated from Central College with the class of 1940 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. Harold claimed that he was the first business graduate from Central. During his college years, it was common knowledge that he was one of two Central College students who owned their own car, but was asked by Dean Pietenpol not to use them.

On June 15, 1940 he was united in marriage with Cecil Elain Howard at Spring Valley, Minn. To this union three children were born: Howard John, Donald Gene and Ann Marie. Following their marriage, Harold became the Dean of Boys and taught manual training and wood working at the Annville Institute in Annville, Ky. for four years. They then moved to Waupaca, Wis., where he taught business and English in the high school for five years.

Harold then became a special agent for the New York Life Insurance Company. In 1951 he became the office auditor for the Wisconsin Department of Taxation auditing individual income tax returns. In 1964 he became the Field Auditor. After 16 years with the Department of Taxation, Harold accepted a position to teach accounting and income tax at the newly organized state vocational-technical school system, the Fox Valley Technical Institute, in Appleton, Wis., in 1967. In 1980 they returned to Spring Valley to spend their retirement.

Cecil passed away on October 23, 1983 due to cancer.

On August 16, 1985 Harold and Mina Marie Baker were united in marriage in the Central College Chapel in Pella. They spent nearly 18 years together in Pella and enjoyed traveling and sharing Elderhostel and other Central College activities. While living in Pella, Harold became a member of the Pella Kiwanis Club and the Second Reformed Church where he had served as a Sunday School teacher. For many years, he maintained his membership at the Faith United Methodist Church in Spring Valley. He was a member of the Pella Historical Society and served as a faithful volunteer at Pella's Information Windmill. He was a member of the Fillmore County Historical Society at Spring Valley and in prior years had been active with the Boy Scouts of America, the Red Cross and the Human Rights Council.

In late March of 2002 Harold became a resident in the Long Term Care Unit of the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella. He passed away at the facility there on Thursday morning, January 30.

He is survived by his wife, Mina M. Baker Roelofs, of Pella; his three children: Howard J. Roelofs of Albany, N.Y.; Donald G. Roelofs and his wife, Linda of Lake Ozarks, Mo.; and Ann M. Brown and her husband, Craig of De Forest, Wisc.; five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Of his original family, he leaves his younger sister, Leona Nelson and her husband, Richard of Ostrander, Minn.; and a sister-in-law, May (Gysbers), Mrs. Edwin Roelofs of Rochester, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Cecil; his parents, John and Alyda Roelofs; his younger brother, Hilbert Roelofs and his wife, J. Floy (Broadwater); and two half-brothers: Edwin Roelofs and Evert (Lonnie) Roelofs and his wife, Vera (Mensink).

Arrangements were handled by Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella.

Memorials may be made to the Pella Historical Society in Pella, or the Fillmore County Historical Society at Spring Valley, Minn.

The Pella Chronicle, February 7, 2004