DeKock, Albert - 1916-2004

DEKOCK, KOLENBRANDER, TYSSELING

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden-Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/16/2011 at 13:53:43

Sioux Center News, March 17, 2004

Albert T. De Kock, 87, a resident of EdenBrook Care Center in The Woodlands, Texas, and formerly of Oskaloosa, died Friday, March 5 at the care center.

Funeral services were Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with the Rev. Norman Kolenbrander officiating. Burial was in the Evergreen Cemetery near Leighton.

De Kock was born September 4, 1916, in Mahaska County, near Leighton, the son of Stephen S. & Wilhelmina Tysseling De Kock. At a young age, he made his profession of faith at the Ebenezer Reformed Church in Leighton. On March 30, 1939, he married Janet Kolenbrander at the home of Janet's sister, Johanna Vermeer in Pella. She died July 6, 2002. He worked for the Farm Bureau and Marion Pothoven Oil before purchasing a neighborhood grocery store in Oskaloosa in 1947. Together with his wife, they managed the grocery store until purchasing the Van Gorp & De Kock Furniture Store in September 1952. In 1958, there was a serious fire at the store and at that time he bought Van Gorp's share of the business. He continued to operate the De Kock Furniture store until retiring in September of 1980. Following his retirement he worked part-time at the Earl May Garden Center in Oskaloosa.

He was a member of the Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, where he was a Sunday school superintendent and was active in Men's Brotherhood, Men's Prayer group and Bible study, and Full Gospel Men's Fellowship. When he moved to Pella he became a member of the Trinity Reformed Church in Pella. He was also a member of the Oskaloosa Kiwanis Club from 1952 until moving to Pella in 1999, and served as president of the Oskaloosa club. Lt governor of the Nebraska-Iowa District and was the Oskaloosa Kiwanis Club secretary for over 30 years.

He is survived by a daughter and her husband; Janice & Gerald Van Roekel of Sioux Center; two sons and their wives, Arlan & Linda De Kock and Ron & Kathy De Kock, all of Rolla, MO; six grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Gladys & Gary Vande Haar of Pella and Eva Mae Roorda of Pella; a sister-in-law, Freda Kolenbrander; and a brother in law, Valentine Van Rheenen.

He was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Marlene Audrey; four sisters and their husbands, Engelene & John Engelhoven; Agnes & John Van Zuuk, Nettie & Cornie Vroom and Gertrude & Frank Heimstra; a brother and his wife, Stephen & Mildren De Cook; and a brother-in-law, Paul Roorda.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Pella.