Kooi, Kenneth 1936-1957

KOOI

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/7/2014 at 06:24:51

Sioux Center News June 6, 1957

Kenneth Kooi, 19, Dies Sunday Of Injuries Suffered on May 22 Funeral at Lebanon Wednesday, June 5. Tragedy dealt a double blow to the Sioux Center community over the week-end.

A few hours after the death of one 15-year-old boy — Terry De Boer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Bud De Boer of four miles southwest of Sioux Center — due to injuries suffered in a motorcycle accident, another teen-age youth of this vicinity, Kenneth Kooi, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Kooi died of injuries he had sustained May 22 in a two-car collision 5 miles northwest of Sioux Center.

Kooi died at St. Joseph's hospital in Sioux City early Sunday. He has suffered compound fractures of the legs, chest injury and laceration and bruises when his car collided head on with a car driven by Odean De Jong, 18, also of west of Sioux Center. He had been unconscious since undergoing an operation two days following the mishap. De Jong, also seriously injured, is showing steady improvement.

Funeral services for Kooi were held at Lebanon Chr. Ref. church at 2 p.m. Wednesday June 5, following a brief service at the family home, located about eight miles northwest of Sioux Center, Services were conducted by the Rev. Richard Venema and burial was made in the Lebanon cemetery with Vander Ploeg Funeral Home of Sioux Center in charge of arrangements. Pall bearers were Vernon Van Zante, William Van Zanten jr, Louis Toering, Elmer Kooi, George Kooi jr. and John A. Haverhals.

Kooi was born in Sioux Center Jan 9, 1936, and had resided all his life on a farm northwest of Sioux Center. He graduated from Western Chr. High school at Hull in 1955. He was to have been married Aug 29, 1957 to Greta Koldenhoven of Orange City. While in high school Kenneth was a member of the A Capella choir.

Survivors besides his parents include four sisters, Grada, Mrs. Clifford Raak of Maurice; Bertha Mrs. Dwane Vos of Vine Grove KY; Renzella Mrs. Richard Kempema of Sioux Falls; and Karen Kooi at home. And his grandfather Cornelius Van Zanten of Rock Valley. On sister who died in infancy, preceded him in death.