Kooistra, Gerrit 1917-2008

KOOISTRA, VANHEUKELOM, BOERSMA

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/1/2014 at 17:07:09

Sioux Center News April 2, 2008

Gerrit Kooistra, 90, died Monday, March 24, at Hegg Memorial Hospital, Rock Valley. Funeral service was 10:30 am Saturday at First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley with the Rev. Gene Vis and Rev. Rich Kooistra officiating. Burial was at Valley View Cemetery, Rock Valley.

Kooistra was born June 3, 1917, at Hancock, Minnesota, the ninth of 12 children of John and Minnie (Van Heukelom) Kooistra. The family moved to Rock Valley where he grew up. He spent three years in the U.S. Army during WW II, two in the European Theater, where he drove supply truck and was involved in the Normandy invasion and the Battle of the Bulge. He was very proud of his years of service to his country.

He married Priscilla Boersma on November 20, 1947, in Inwood. They lived in Rock Valley where he was a carpenter by trade, enjoyed woodworking, and was talented at rebuilding old pieces of furniture. He was well known for his unique personality, quick wit and dry sense of humor. His wife died December 11, 2002. He moved to the Valley Manor where he was a resident until his death.

Survivors include one daughter, Linda Smith of Harlan; four sons, Linda Smith of Harlan; four sons, Howard (Vicky) Kooistra of Rock Valley, Mike (Ranae) Kooistra of Doon, Lester (Karen) Kooistra of Lynden, Washington, and Gawin (Sally) Kooistra of Willmar, Minnesota; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; two sisters, Etta Mulder of Rock Valley and Nellie Voortman of Visalia, California; three sisters-inlaw, Leona Kooistra of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Coba Boersma of Pipestone, Minnesota, and Rena Boersma of Spearfish, South Dakota.

He was also preceded in death by four brothers, Martin, John, Sam and Elmer Kooistra; two sisters, Anna C. Kooima and Lena DeRuyter; and three siblings in infancy. Memorials may be gifted to the Jaclyn Kooistra Benefit Account for her upcoming kidney transplant.