Van Gelder, Wilbur 1926-2017

VAN GELDER, FEENSTRA, RAAK

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/20/2017 at 14:20:30

Wilbur Van Gelder

December 26, 1926 - March 26, 2017

Wilbur Van Gelder, 90 of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, March 26, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Society of Le Mars.

Funeral Service will be at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, March 30, 2017 at the Rexwinkel-Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars. Burial will be at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Hospice of Siouxland and Alzheimer’s Research.

Wilbur Van Gelder was born on December 26, 1926 in Sibley, Iowa to Edward and Jennie (Feenstra) Van Gelder. He attended county school near Riter and Carnes through 8th grade. He then worked on the farm with his father. He was united in marriage to Betty Raak on October 14, 1948. He continued farming with his father for several years before moving to a farm Northeast of Alton, Iowa. He then moved to the Le Mars area in 1959, continuing to farm and began trucking. He retired from farming in 1984 and moved into Le Mars. He continued operating his trucking business until 2010. Wilbur and Betty spent 12 years wintering in Texas. In 2015, he moved into nursing home care, and passed away at Good Samaritan Society in Le Mars.

Wilbur is survived by his wife of 68 years, Betty; children: Rosalie (Merlin) Giesen of Slayton, MN, Gary (Chris) Van Gelder of Creston, IA, and Bruce (Betty) Van Gelder of Oskaloosa, IA; five grandchildren: Melissa (Mike) Harms, Shelley (special friend, Brian Huisman) Shook, Kari (Mike) Hudson, Brad (Terri) Van Gelder, and Matt (Jenny) Van Gelder; 13 great grandchildren; 2 older brothers: James Van Gelder of Orange City, IA, and Dick Van Gelder of Creston, IA; and 3 younger siblings: Joyce Hulst of Orange City, IA, Kathy Van Wyke of Ireton, IA, and John (Thelma) Van Gelder of Orange City, Iowa; brother in law, Ben Schiebout; and many other relatives.

Wilbur is preceded in death by his parents; infant granddaughter, Dawn Shook; infant great granddaughter, Jessica Harms; and sister, Irene Schiebout.

Carlsen Funeral Home
Le Mars, IA