Bomgaars, Arie J. 1910-1990
BOMGAARS, VANDERWILT, KORVER
Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/5/2007 at 19:32:20
ARIE J. BOMGAARS
Arie John Bomgaars, 80, LeMars, long time LeMars insurance executive, church and civic leader, died Saturday (August 11, 1990) at Floyd Valley Hospital in LeMars.
Funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Presbyterian United Church of Christ, LeMars. Officiating will be Reverend Robert Grupp, assisted by Reverend Dale George and Reverend James Ransom.
Burial will be in Resthaven Memory Gardens, LeMars.
Visitation will be after 2 p.m. Monday, with the family present from 7-8:30 p.m. Monday and a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in LeMars.
He was born March 21, 1910, in Orange City, the son of John Arie and Kate (Vander Wilt) Bomgaars. He graduated from Northwestern Classical Academy and Northwestern Junior College in 1930 in Orange City taught rural school in Sioux County from 1931 to 1934.
Artha Kover and Mr. Bomgaars were married December 23, 1935, in Orange City.
He graduated from Morningside College, Sioux City, in 1936. He had taken graduate studies in education at Wayne State University, Detroit, and Drake University, DesMoines.
Mr. Bomgaars became principal and superintendent of Hospers schools from 1937 to 1945. He taught mathematics at LeMars High School in 1945-46.
Mr. Bomgaars became a full-time New York Life Insurance underwriter in 1946, and continued until his death, with over 45 years with the company. He was classified as a past-senior NYLIG and was a member of the Million Dollar Round Table of the insurance company.
He was a member of Presbyterian United Church of Christ, where he served several times, as trustee and six terms as an elder. He began teaching Sunday school at the age of 18 and continued in that capacity until age 75. Mr. Bomgaars was instrumental in the talks that led to the merger of the former First Presbyterian Church and the former St. John's United Church of Christ.
Mr. Bomgaars held several posts in the Northwest Iowa Presbytery and was honored by being elected moderator of the Presbytery in 1974. He also had been a delegate to the general assembly.
Arie was an active scoutmaster from 1938 to 1964, and had served on many Boy Scout committees. In 1959, he was awarded the Silver Beaver Award for outstanding service to scouting. He presented numerous Eagle Scout and God and Country Awards throughout Northwest Iowa.
He became an active promoter of the Plymouth County Work Activity Center, providing educational and employment opportunity for handicapped young people and adults. He had several terms on the center board of directors, including the president.
Arie was involved in almost all community efforts of humanitarian value in LeMars. He promoted fund-raising campaigns for schools, Floyd Valley Hospital, Westmar College and medical foundations.
He was active in the Rotary Club and served a term as president. In 1977, he received the Sertoma Club Service to mankind award, and in 1980, the LeMars Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Decade Award.
In 1988, he was honorary chairman of the Knights of Columbus work activity center's fund raising campaign.
Survivors are his wife, Artha, of LeMars; a daughter, Dr. Mona Bomgaars, chairperson of the Department of Family Practice, Cook County Hospital in Chicago; a son, Robert Bomgaars, vice president of marketing of Security Connecticut Insurance Company, Kansas City, Missouri; a brother, John Bomgaars of the Sioux Center; three grandchildren, Shannon, Stacey and Cory.
Memorials will be established at the Plymouth County Work Activity Center and Presbyterian United Church of Christ.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
[Part of the Darrell Eason Obituary Collection]
Tombstone Photo
Plymouth Obituaries maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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