Achterhof, Lawrence W. and Jeanetta J. (Van Otterloo)

ACHTERHOF, VAN OTTERLOO

Posted By: Kaleigh De Vries (email)
Date: 5/20/2020 at 19:34:16

Lawrence W. "Larry" Achterhof was born May 1, 1915 in Sioux County, Iowa. He was the oldest child of Ralph and Maggie Achterhof, whose story is given separately.

Jeanetta J. "Jean" (Van Otterloo) Achterhof was born on October 9, 1917 at Rock Valley, Iowa to John G. and Adrianna (Noteboom) Van Otterloo. Her father was the son of Gerrit Van Otterloo. John Van Otterloo was a farmer, later a carpenter and then he worked as an assistant manager at the Farmers Elevator in Rock Valley. Adrianna Van Otterloo died in 1958, followed by her husband in 1961. Both are buried in Rock Valley, Iowa.

Lawrence W. Achterhof graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1933. Following his graduation, he worked for the First National Bank for ten years. He then worked as a U.S. government safety inspector at a bomb loading plant in Meade, Nebraska.

Following the war, he returned to Sioux Center and opened his own office as Achterhof Real Estate, Inc. in addition to real estate sales and management, the office did income tax and general insurance work.

Both Lawrence and Jean Achterhof were firm believers in giving many years of their lives to volunteer work in the church and community. Lawrence was elected city treasurer in 1936 and served until the years he worked for the U.S. government.

Lawrence served as an adult Boy Scout volunteer for 48 years and was awarded the coveted Silver Beaver Award. He was active in the Sioux Center Civic Club for many years, and he was appointed by the club to be the chairman of the committee to investigate the possibility of having a hospital built in Sioux Center.

After the hospital was built, he continued to serve on the hospital board for the past forty years. He is presently secretary of the board.

Lawrence was elected to the Sioux Center School Board in the 1940s and served on the board for eight years. He also was a Sunday school teacher in the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Lawrence has served on many committees and boards in community and church work.

He is a member of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in the International Monetary Market, and is president of Luverne Dehydrating Products in Luverne, Minnesota.

Jean Achterhof was county chairman for the TB Association for many years. She sings with the Sioux County Women's Chorus and in the Praise Choir of the First Reformed Church. For many years, she was a bookkeeper for Achterhof Real Estate. At present she is serving on the Sioux County Board for the Council of Aging.

Lawrence's favorite leisure activities include hunting in the West, fishing, golfing and bowling. At this writing, he was the oldest member of his bowling league. Jean enjoys sewing, crocheting, knitting and playing the piano.

They are the parents of four children. Delora (Dee) Achterhof De Kock lives in West Des Moines, Iowa as do her two sons, Dane and Doug. Dee's husband, Duane, died in a private plane accident in 1982.

Roger Achterhof lives in Luverne, Minnesota with his wife, Carole and their daughter, Marta. They also have two other daughters, Kristin and Linda.

Douglas and Karen Achterhof live in Everly, Iowa and they are the parents of four children, Kona, Tara, Troy and Kley.

Beverly Achterhof Rohl and her husband, Mike, live in Highland Ranch, Colorado.

by Carole R. Achterhof
A People with Convictions: A History of Sioux Center, Iowa 1870-1991
As written at time of publication- 1991.