Raak, Donald G. 1920-2012

RAAK, TESTROETE, BOERSMA

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/25/2012 at 06:06:57

Donald G. Raak
August 29, 1920 - July 20, 2012

Mr. Donald Raak, age 91, of Hospers, passed away on Friday, July 20, 2012, at the Orange City Area Health System Hospital.
There will be a memorial service on Monday, July 23, at 11:00am, at the First Reformed Church in Hospers. The Rev. Milton Sikkema will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the Hospers Cemetery.
Donald Gerard was born on August 29, 1920, in Hospers, the son of Jerry and Ruth (Te Stroete) Raak. He was raised at Hospers, where he graduated from the high school.
On August 28, 1941, he married Leona Mae Boersma in Hospers. They made their home in Hospers, where he worked with his father at the Hospers Telephone Company. He later became owner of the company. During his time there, they converted the telephones to dial, and he oversaw the transfer of farmer owned cooperative lines to private lines with Hospers Telephone. He retired in 1982. Leona passed away on October 6, 1983, in Hospers, after more than 42 years of marriage.
On October 12, 1985, he married Emogene Ruth Van’t Hul Van’t Hof in Orange City. They continued to live in Hospers.
Don was a faithful member of the First Reformed Church, where he served as a deacon and an elder on the consistory. He also served on the boards of directors of the Hospers Public School and later the Floyd Valley Community School, and he was a member of the Hospers City Council.
He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, and mowing lawn. He loved being a grandpa.
Survivors include his wife of more than 26 years, Gene; a son and his wife, David and Arlene Raak, of Hospers; two daughters, Sharon Gumto, of Chandler, Arizona; and Joan, and her husband, Galen Haack, of Hospers; two step-children and their spouses, Laura and Thomas Wakefield, of Spencer; and Douglas and Denise Van’t Hof, of Hudson, South Dakota; fourteen grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren; a sister and her husband, Lavonne and Rich Landman, of Hull; and a brother-in-law, Willis Vander Maten, of Florida.
In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Richard Gumto; a great-grandson, Bennett Raak; and a sister, Arnola Vander Maten.
Source: Oolman Funeral Home, Hospers, IA., obit.