Verrips, Gradus - 1909-2005

VERRIPS, ABMA, DEZEEUW

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden-Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/2/2012 at 13:24:44

Sioux City Journal, January, 2005

Sioux Center, Iowa - Gradus Verrips, 95, of Sioux Center died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2005 at Sioux Center Community Hospital.

Services will be 1 P.M., Wednesday at Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center, with the Revs. Van Rathbun and Joel Bensema officiating. Burial will be in Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be 2 to 8 P.M., today, with the family present 6:30 to 8 P.M., at Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center.

Gradus Henry Verrips was born Feb. 17, 1909 to Jacob & Jennie (DeZeeuw) Verrips at their home in Middleburg, Iowa. He attended country school until the family moved to Sioux Center, where he, at the age of 18, joined his father working at the Verrips Blacksmith Shop.

He married Josephine Abma, of Springfield, SD, on Feb. 23, 1939 in Sioux Center, where they made their home. He took over the family business renaming it Verrips Welding Service. He continued the business until 1976, when he sold it to the Sioux Center Co-op. At that time he began working part-time at Sioux Automation in Sioux Center. He continued to work there until his retirement in 1989.

He was a member of Central Reformed Church and served many years as a church elder. He was known for freely sharing his Christian faith, his positive attitude and his infectious sense of humor. He enjoyed visiting with people in the nursing home and hospital. He was fond of being outdoors and spent hours on walks or riding his bicycle.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Josephine of Sioux Center; two children and their spouses, Thorval & Pat Verrips of Woodward, Iowa; and Janice & Gary Mishler of LeMars, Iowa; seven grandchildren and spouses, Wendi & Mat Peterson of Woodward, IA; Evan Verrips of Woodward; Becky Verrips of Woodward; Kim & Kirk Holzman of LeMars, IA; Sherry Wielenga of Remsen, IA; Amy & Rick Hicks of Sioux City, and Krista & Branden Gramlow of LeMars; nine great-grandchildren; Kyle Wielenga, Cory Hicks, Mikayla Bebout; Tyler Holzman; Jasmine Nacke; Haley Bebout; Josie Holzman; Jaiden Gramlow, and Kaylee Hicks; a sister and her husband, Pearl & Vern Sjogren of Redlands, CA; and a sister-in-law and her husband, Gladys & Gary Verrips of Walton, KY.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Nellie; a brother, Paul and twin infant daughters.

Memorials may be directed to The Gideon's International.