Docter, Martin 1908-1996

DOCTER, SCHNEIDER, SCHOONVELT

Posted By: Janet Brown - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/22/2013 at 14:18:59

From the June 19, 1996 edition of the Rock Valley Bee:

Martin Docter

Martin J. Docter, 87, of Boyden died Thursday, June 13, 1996 at the Oak Park Care Center in Sheldon, Iowa.

Services were Monday at the First Reformed Church in Boyden with the Rev. Mark Volkers officiating. Burial was at Sheridan Township Cemetery near Boyden. Visitation was at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Boyden.

Mr. Docter was born Dec. 13, 1908, in Firth, NE, the son of Henry and Maggie (Schoonvelt) Docter. He was raised in Firth, where he received his education. On Sept. 27, 1934, he married Everdene Margaret Schneider in Holland, NE. The couple farmed in the Holland area until 1952 when they moved to Iowa. They then farmed in the Boyden area before moving to Boyden in 1959. Mr. Docter then worked for the road maintenance department of Sioux County until his retirement in 1971. He joined his wife at the Oak Park Care Center in June, 1995.

Mr. Docter was a faithful member of we first Reformed Church where he had served on the consistory as a deacon and belonged to the Men's Brotherhood. He enjoyed camping, gardening and woodworking, and was part of the Boyden Horseshoe Team for many years.

Survivors include his wife, three daughters, Dorothy and her husband Norman Prange of Sheldon, Iowa, Shirley and her husband Ken Baartman of Boyden, and Ardith of Rock Valley, Iowa; nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; a sister, Jennie Essink of Holland, NE; and three brothers, Garret of Orange City, Iowa, Henry of Lincoln, NE, and Arthur of Firth.

He was preceded in death by three sisters, Martha Wieskamp and Mary Ten Huizen in adulthood, and another sister Mary in childhood; and two brothers, Lievert and Thomas.