Spijker, Arabella, (Mrs. Simon) 1901-1992

SPIJKER, RUISCH, KUYPER, VANROEKEL, SIPMA

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/19/2014 at 09:17:05

Born: June 28, 1901 Alton, Iowa
Died: May 18, 1992 Orange City, Iowa

Arabella Spijker, 90, of Orange City died Monday, May 18, at the Orange City hospital. Services were at Trinity Reformed Church in Orange City on Thursday, with the Rev. Donald De Glopper and the Rev. Robert Hector officiating. Burial was in West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City.

She was born June 28, 1901, in Alton, the daughter of Dick and Annie (Kuyper) Ruisch. She was graduated from Alton School and taught piano lessons. She later worked for the Orange City postmaster and the Sioux County engineer.

On February 24, 1922, she married George G. Van Roekel in Orange City. They farmed between Alton and Orange City. He died January 26, 1945, in Alton. On December 15, 1945, she married Sip Sipma at Nashua. They made their home in Orange City. He died April 10, 1966 at Orange City. On October 10, 1980, she married Simon Spijker at Orange City. He died November 8, 1987. In 1988, she became a resident of Orange City Municipal Hospital.

Spijker was a member of Trinity Reformed Church and a former member of American Reformed Church, both of Orange City. She had participated in several church choirs and the Sioux County Farm Bureau Chorus. She was also active in community production, including Tulip Festival shows. She was a Stanley Products representative, hostess at the Holland House in Sioux Center and a reporter for KIWA Radio in Sheldon. She was currently coordinating Sunday worship services at the hospital.

Survivors include a son and his wife, Robert and Rachel Van Roekel of Alton, two daughters and their husbands, Audrey and Herbert Preul of Cincinnatti, Ohio and Shirley and Dan De Ruyter of Sioux Center; three step-daughters; Marge Roghair of Bellflower, Ca., and Carol and her husband, Harvey Vander Pol, all of Orange City; six grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and many step-grandchildren; step great-grandchildren; and step-great-great-grandchildren.

Source: Sioux Center News May 27, 1992