Verdoorn, Dick, 1886-1965

VERDOORN, DODEWARD

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/29/2012 at 21:11:43

Funeral Services for D. Ver Doorn Held Saturday

Funeral services were held in the First Reformed Church in Rock Valley Saturday, March 20 for Dick Verdoorn. Mr. Verdoorn died Wednesday, March 17 at the Sioux Center hospital within a few hours after a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 78 years.

Rev. Henry Poppen officiated. Mrs. Allen Bonthuis and Mrs. Jake Vande Weerd sang "Saved By Grace" and "There Is No Night There," accompanied by Miss Beverly Gaalswyk at the organ. Pallbearers were nephews of the deceased: Tom Gaalswyk, Alvin Gaalswyk, Arie C. Bliek, Herbert Bliek, Joe Van Wondenberg and James Kota. Burial was at the Valley View cemetery with the Porter Funeral home in charge.

Mr. Verdoorn was born in the Netherlands on July 11, 1886. He was the son of Joost and Elsie Verdoorn and came to this country at the age of two with his parents, who settled in Sioux county. He was married to Cora Dodeward March 3, 1910 and to this union two daughters were born.

Mr. Verdoorn farmed in the Rock Valley vicinity all of his life until his retirement in 1946, when they moved to Rock Valley. He was a member of the First Reformed church and served as a deacon and treasurer in this church for 12 years.

Survivors include the widow, Cora; two daughters, Elsie (Mrs. William Wissink) and Cornelia (Mrs. John Wissink); two grandsons and two great-grandchildren. He also has two step-granddaughters and 18 step-grandchildren.

He is also survived by five sisters: Annie (Mrs. Joe Van Westerhuyzen), Glenwood, Minn.; Mary (Mrs. De Young), Grand Rapids, Mich.; Teunie (Mrs. Henry Van Woudenberg), Bertha (Mrs. Arie Gaalswyk), and Grace (Mrs. Bert Bliek), all of Rock Valley.

Source: Rock Valley Bee, March 25, 1965.

A similar, somewhat shorter obituary was published in the Sioux Center News (March 25). It adds that he was also survived by one brother, Martin, of Rochester, Minn., who passed away the day after his death.