VanderKooi, Fred W. 1930-2016

VANDERKOOI, WEBER, FRITSCH

Posted By: Linda Ziemann (email)
Date: 5/11/2016 at 19:10:30

Fred W. Vander Kooi, 86, of Merrill, Iowa passed away Sunday evening, April 17, 2016, at Floyd Valley Health Care in Le Mars.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, April 22, 2016 at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars with Reverend Chris Meier of St. John’s Lutheran Church officiating. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Le Mars with military honors provided by the Oleson-Halweg American Legion Post #125 of Merrill. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 21, 2016 at the Carlsen Funeral Home of Le Mars. Visitation will continue Friday morning from 9:30 a.m. until service time.

Pallbearers will be Ron Perera, Mike Schoen, Bryce Staab, Jacob Beyer, Joseph Vander Kooi, Tim Vander Kooi and Chad Mason.

Fredrick William Vander Kooi was born March 4, 1930, in Hinton, Iowa to Peter and Katherine (Weber) Vander Kooi. He attended school in Hinton. Fred was inducted into the United States Army during the Korean War on April 19, 1949 and served until being honorably discharged on June 20, 1952. He was united in marriage to Carroll Fritsch on November 1, 1952, in Elk Point, South Dakota. The couple lived in Wisconsin where Fred worked for a saw mill and later the family moved to Hinton, Iowa, in the late 1960’s. Fred drove truck for Vander Kooi Trucking until his retirement in 2000. He trucked locally hauling livestock, feed, and grain for area farmers. Upon retirement, Fred moved to Merrill.

Fred and Carroll enjoyed having the grandchildren around their home. After their daughter Karen passed away in 1995, Fred and Carroll helped raise her children. He taught his grandchildren many important life lessons. He loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren very deeply. Carroll passed away in 1998.

Survivors include a daughter, Kay (Richard) Marks of Merrill; eight grandchildren: Timothy Vander Kooi, Robert (Stephanie) Potter, Amanda (David) Fitzsimmons, Darin Marks (Erin Small), Chad (Mindy) Mason, Jenny (Gary) Brady, Jackie (Jesse) Staab, and Joseph Vander Kooi; ten great grandchildren: Natasha Mason, Jacob Beyer, Lexi Schroeder, Riley Potter, Bryce Staab, Bailey Brady, Maddie Vasquez, Jacob Vasquez, Breanna Staab, and Myla Mason; four siblings: Dale Vander Kooi of Merrill, Duane (Patsy) Vander Kooi of Athens, GA, Peter (Linda) Vander Kooi of Bristol, VA, and Judy (Harold) Lenig of Rancho Dominguez, CA; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Carroll; mother, Katherine (Weber) Boulton; and a daughter, Karen Sherlock.

Source: Carlsen Funeral Home Obituary