Achterhof, Doug and Karen (Meier)

ACHTERHOF, MEIER

Posted By: Kaleigh De Vries (email)
Date: 5/20/2020 at 18:05:36

On September 3, 1966, Douglas R. Acherthof and Karen Dale Meier were wed in Newton, Kansas. That same month they established their new home at 725 1st Avenue SE in Sioux Center, Iowa. Doug had joined his father in business at 304 North Main that June, as the junior salesman at Achterhof Real Estate.

On November 10, of 1967, a daughter was born to this new family. Kona K. became the third granddaughter of her paternal grandparents, Lawrence and Jean Achterhof, and the first grandchild of her maternal grandparents, Dale and Jean Meier of Newton, Kansas. In 1969, October 23rd, Tara J. was born to Doug and Karen. Their sons, Troy D. and Kley L. were born on March 15, 1972 and August 16, 1974, respectively, the first male Achterhofs of this generation. All four children were born in Sioux City, Iowa and attended Kinsey ELementary School in Sioux City.

In the spring of 1971, the family purchased an acreage four miles east of Sioux Center. This property had been homesteaded by Doug's great-grandfather at the turn of the century. The landscaping and planting of these fifteen acres became a full-time project enjoyed by the whole family. The pond, which is attractive to wild waterfowl even today, was dug in 1976. Doug solicited Harold Wandscheer's help in erecting the curved bridge which leads to the island.
Karen was an aerobics instructor in Sioux Center for several years, establishing a partnership with Paula DeBoer, called the Body Shop in 1984.

In 1971, Doug began trading commodities with Peavy Company and gradually turned over the real estate and tax business to his dad, devoting himself to completely managing the commodity office. He joined with FGL in 1981.
In February of 1979, the Achterhof family moved into their new home designed and landscaped by Doug and built by Rob Schelling of Sioux Center. It was built around the skeletal structure of the original barn put up by Doug's great-grandfather, Van Kley.
In 1985, the Achterhof family moved to Rapid City, South Dakota where Kona graduated from Steven's High in 1986 and Tara, in 1988. Doug joined Coldwell Banker/Lewis Kirkeby and Hall, as a full-time realtor/broker. Karen taught floor and water aerobics at the I.T. National Family Fitness Center in Rapid City.
In the fall of 1987, Doug accepted a position managing the real estate office of Green Management, Inc. The family moved west to Casper, Wyoming. 1988 brought yet another move this time south to Nevada, Missouri, where Doug worked as vice president of marketing for American Agronomics. Karen accepted a position that spring with Community Outreach in Nevada, working with the Homeless and Hungry.
The following spring, 1989, Iowa recalled her own. Don Anderson accepted Doug into his commodity office in Spencer. The family is currently residing outside of Everly, Iowa on Highway 18. Doug is also working in Spirit Lake, where is sales manager and landscape designer for the Iowa Great Lakes Nursery. Karen is employed at J.C. Penney's in Spencer, and the boys enrolled at Spencer High School. Kley is a sophomore and Troy, a senior, who will graduate May, 1990.

During the many moves of the last several years, the Lord has blessed this family with numerous miracles and tremendous spiritual growth. Each hardship has resulted in strength and a very real sense of the nearness and love of God.

By Doug and Karen Achterhof
A People with Convictions: A History of Sioux Center, Iowa 1870-1991