Gaalswyk, Joe T., 1919-1997

GAALSWYK, VERDOORN, KOOIMA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/11/2010 at 21:16:32

Joe T. Gaalswyk, age 78, of Rock Valley, died Monday, December 8, 1997, at the McKennan Hospital at Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral service was Friday at the First Reformed Church in Rock Valley. Burial was at the Valley View Cemetery at Rock Valley. Rev. Harlan DeJong officiated. Visitation was Thursday at the Porter Funeral Home at Rock Valley.

Joe was born May 29, 1919 at Rock Valley. He was the son of Arie and Bertha (Verdoorn) Gaalswyk. Joe married Marjorie Kooima March 6, 1941 near Rock Valley. Together they farmed in the Rock Valley area until Joe began working at Kooima Manufacturing at Rock Valley in 1963. Joe and Marjorie moved to Rock Valley in 1966 and Joe retired in 1986. Joe was a past Rock Valley Christian School Board member and past Deacon at the First Reformed Church.

Surviving relatives include his wife, Marjorie; one son and his wife, Stanley and Gert Gaalswyk of Sibley, IA; three daughters and their husbands, Beverly and Merlyn De Vries of Edmond, OK, Joanne and Gary Dorhout of Cedar Falls, IA, and Margene and Gene Raak of Edgerton, MN; daughter-in-law and her husband, Esther and Ron Walker of Sioux Falls, SD; fourteen grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one brother and his wife, Alvin and Janet Gaalswyk of Rock Valley, IA; two sisters, Mary Huyser of Inwood, IA, Elsie and her husband Elmer Kooima of Rock Valley.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Arie and Bertha; one son, Arlan, and one brother, Tom.

Source: Rock Valley Bee, Dec. 17, 1997.