Wrather, Gavin 1999-2009

WRATHER, VANDERWEL, KRAAI, KORVER, HAJEK

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-volunteer
Date: 9/10/2013 at 23:06:21

Source: Oolman Funeral Home (8-3-2009)

Born: June 10, 1999
Died: July 26, 2009

Gavin Wrather, age 10, of Orange City, passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2009, in a motor vehicle accident in rural Sioux Rapids.

There will be a funeral service on Thursday, July 30, at 10:00 A.M., at the American Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. Lizbeth Moss and the Rev. Harlan Van Oort will officiated. Interment will follow at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. Visitation with the family present will be on Wednesday, from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., at the CHURCH. Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

Gavin Ray Wrather was born on June 10, 1999, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. He was raised at Orange City, where he attended the Crayon Castle and Covenant Kids Pre-schools. He was looking forward to being in the fourth grade at the MOC-Floyd Valley Elementary School this fall.

He participated in the Orange City Recreation Program, playing baseball and roller hockey. He was a part of the Sioux Center Tornadoes Hockey Team for five years, liked basketball and wrestling, and was anxious to be on the Orange City PeeWee football team this fall. He and Roman De Jong were ball boys for the MOC-Floyd Valley basketball team, and they couldn’t wait for the 2009-10 season. He was always willing to help others, from setting up Tulip Festival activities to construction work, and he took on any task that was asked of him. Gavin enjoyed boating, cooking pancakes, and driving golf carts and anything with a motor. He played with his toy combine and skid loader, but liked the real ones better. His favorite teams were the Dutch, Celtics, Dodgers, Huskers, Steelers, and Texas, and he liked going to Husker and Steeler games. He admired and imitated his big brother and loved spending time with family and friends. It seems Gavin could find good in everyone.

Survivors include his mother, Julie Vander Wel, and his brother, Drake Wrather, age 14, both of Orange City; his father, Matt Wrather, and his wife, Christine, of Rembrandt; grandparents, Don and Mary Lou Vander Wel and Dan and Kathy Kraai, all of Orange City; and Dan and Jeanie Wrather, of Columbus, Mississippi; great-grandparents, Jim Korver and Gertrude (Brink) Kraai, both of Orange City; and Al and Shirley Hajek, of Enid, Oklahoma; a step-brother, Nathan; and two step-sisters, Bethany, and Caitlyn.

He was preceded in death by great-grandparents, Marian (Noteboom) Korver, Raymond and Selma (De Vries) Vander Wel, Merlin Kraai, and J.K. and Belva Lee Wrather. Memorials may be directed to the Gavin Wrather Memorial Funds at the Northwestern, Iowa State, and Community Banks, all in Orange City.