Kooiker, Herman John 1935-1962

KOOIKER, STEPHENS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/3/2014 at 16:02:19

Sioux County Index of May 17, 1962

Burns fatal to 27 year old Herman Kooiker
Herman John Kooiker, 27, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Kooiker of Hull, who also resided here, died Sunday in a Sioux Center, Iowa, hospital of burns suffered in a farm accident on Sunday afternoon.

As Mr. Kooiker was alone at the time of the mishap, it can only be presumed that his clothing caught fire as he was attempting to stamp out a fire which had started when some gasoline, which was spilled on the ground ignited as he started his car, which was parked about ten feet from the gasoline tank.

The mishap was discovered late Sunday when Donald Hoekstra, a nearby neighbor out doing his chores, saw young Kooiker running through a grove of trees with his clothes in flames. He was taken to the hospital where he later died.

Mr. Kooiker had rented the farm, located two miles northwest of Hull, for the summer months. He was engaged to marry Ruth Stephens of Orange City this summer. The couple's plans were to move to Holland, Michigan where Miss Stephens had accepted a teaching position and Mr. Kooiker planned to attend Hope College for further study. Young Kooiker had attended Northwvestern college, Orange City, and received his bachelor of science degree from the State College at Brookings, South Dakota

Herman John Kooiker, son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Kooiker, Hull, Iowa, was born January 1, 1935, at Boyden, Iowa. At the age of 12 he moved with his parents to a farm in ,he vicinity of Luverne, Minnesota. He attended high school in Luverne and graduated in the year of 1952. He then attended Northwestern college at Orange City, Iowa, for two years. He enlisted in the Naval Air Force for two years and was stationed at Pensacola, Florida, and Norfolk, Virginia. After his discharge, he attended South Dakota State College for two years and earned the Bachelor of Science degree in 1958.

After engaging in various business occupations, he was at home in Hull with his parents and was farming west of Hull at the time of his death. In May, 1959, he accepted Christ as his personal Savior and made public profession of his faith at the local Christian Reformed Church, in Hull, Iowa.

His tragic death on May 13,1962, at the age of 27 years, 4 months and 12 days, leaves to mourn his –bereaved parents, three brothers and three sisters: Willis of Boyden, Iowa; Jacob of Hardwick, Minnesota; Clara (Mrs. Harvard Rozeboom) of Leota, Minnesota; Cynthia (Mrs. H . Lubben) of Sioux Falls, South. Dakota; Louise (Mrs. Don De Boer) of Leota, Minnesota; and John Jr. at home with his parents, and his fiance’, Ruth Stephens and her parents -Mr. and Mrs. Howard Stephens and Mary of Orange City; besides a host of relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, May 17, at 1:30. pm. at the Kraai Funeral Chapel and at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Reformed Church of Hull. The Rev. Harlen Roelofs of Orange City will officiate. Pallbearers will be Theodore Stientjes, Norman Van Ommeren, Kenneth Vermeer, Alvin K. Kooiker, Ronald Van Kalsbeek and Albert H. Kooiker. Interment will take place at Hope Cemetery at Hull.