Bolkema, Koos 1908-1998

BOLKEMA, BEUZEKOM, JACOBSMA, VENEMA, VANDER BERG

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 3/10/2013 at 17:16:12

Source: Sioux County Capital of Orange City (1998-12-3)
Source: Siouxland Press, Orange City, December 9, 1998.

Koos Bolkema, 90, of Shelton, died Monday, Nov. 30, 1998 at St.Luke’s Hospital in Sioux City.
Services were held on Thursday, Dec. 3 at 10:30 a.m.at the First Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon. The Rev. John Vermeer and the Rev. Daniel Heemstra officiated. Burial followed in East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon under the direction of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.

Koos was born July 6, 1908 in Oldekerk, Gronigen, The Netherlands, the son of John and Bordzina Venema Bolkema. He came to the United States, to the Hospers area as a small child, and received his education at the Hospers Christian School. On Feb. 24, 1933 he was married to Bertha Beuzekom in Archer. After their marriage, the couple farmed in the Archer and Sheldon area. He also served as a district manager for the Fontanelle Seed Company for many years. The couple retired from farming in 1973 and moved into Sheldon. Bertha died Sept. 9, 1980 in Sheldon.

On Aug. 14, 1981 he married Dora Vander Berg in Hospers. The couple made their home in Sheldon and in 1988 they moved into the Christian Retirement Home in Sheldon. Dora died September 1, 1994 in Sheldon. Koos continued to make his home in Sheldon.

Mrs. Bolkema was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon and had served as an elder and was member of the Dutch Psalm Singers.

Survivors include two daughters and their husbands, Beverly and Calvin Heemstra of Orange City and Helen and James Bilsland of Sioux City; a son and his wife, Kenneth and Janice Bolkema of Sheldon; nine grandchildren, Jeffery,Bradley, Daniel and Scott Heemstra, Barbara Laarman, Tami Fairbanks, Edward Bilsland, Christina Engelk and Kevin Bolkema; 18 great-grandchildren; and a sister –in-law, Tille Bokema of Sheldon.

He was preceded in death by his wives, parents; six brothers Sjoerd, Herman, Popko, John, William and Elez; and two sisters, Annie Stuit and Sadie Krikke.