Bolks, Dr. Herbert Paul, 1916-2009

BOLKS, BAKER, PETERSON, DEGROOT, RENS

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/4/2014 at 13:42:52

Born: September 22, 1916, Sioux City, Iowa
Died: May 8,2009 Hull, Iowa

Dr. Paul Bolks, age 92, longtime resident of Hull, Iowa passed away Friday May 8, 2009, at the Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull.

There will be a funeral service on Tuesday, May 12, at 1:30 p.m. at the American Reformed Church in Hull. The Rev. Steven Bierly will officiate. Interment will follow at the Hope Cemetery in Hull. Visitation will be after 4:00 p.m. on Monday, with the family present from 6-8 p.m., at Oolman Funeral Home in Hull.

Herbert Paul was born on September 22, 1916, in Sioux City, Iowa, the son of Herbert B. and Maude Esther (Baker) Bolks. He graduated from the Hull Public High School in 1934 and attended Northwestern Junior College in Orange City, Iowa for one year. He then transferred to Kansas State University, where he received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1939. During World War II, he served in the United States Army Air Force for five years, as a food inspector for products of animal origin. He attained the rank of Major and remained in the Veterinary Reserve Corps until retirement age.

He married Faith Peterson, on June 7, 1941, while serving in the army in Boise ID. She was a teacher in the Hull Public School. They made their home in Hull, where he operated his veterinary practice. She passed away on July 17, 1986, in Hull, from Ameotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease).

Dr. Bolks married Alberta (Rens) De Groot on May 14, 1988, in Hull, where they continued to live. In August of 2004, he became a resident of Pleasant Acres Care Center. Mrs. Bolks joined him there in 2006.

He was a member of the American Reformed Church, where he served as both an elder and a deacon. He was also active in the Hull Community, serving on the Hull City Council for eight years and as Hull's mayor for eight years. He was a member of the Kiwanis from 1970-2006, holding the offices of president, secretary, and treasurer. In addition, he was a member of the Wegman-Koele American Legion Post 380, and he served as the Director of Veterans Affairs for Sioux County, from 1967 until 2003.

Survivors including his wife of almost 21 years, "Bertie"; a son, Robert (Lori) Bolks of Springfield, Missouri; a daughter, Marcia (Randy) Harms, of Canistota, S.D. and their children, Dan (Catherine) Harms, of Raleigh, N.C., Andrew Harms, of Minneapolis, MN, and Mary (Ryan) Palmer of Cary, NC; a stepson, Ron (Patty) De Groot, of Brandon, S.D. and their children, Jonathan (Jane) De Groot, of Remsen, IA, Rochelle De Groot, of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Benjamin (Heidi) De Groot, of Aberdeen, S.D.; a step-daughter, Karen, (Dale) Leusink, of Orange City, and their sons, Ryan and Todd Leusink, both of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Troy of Orange City; and four great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Gordon (Beverly) Bolks and Kenneth Arthur Bolks, in infancy,

Source: Obit of Oolman Funeral Home in Hull after May 8, 2009