Roorda, Ray 1902-2007

ROORDA, DYKSTRA, KOSTERS

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 1/29/2015 at 05:25:23

Source: Sioux Center News (8-22-2007)

Born: August 27, 1902
Died: August 12, 2007

Ray Roorda, 104, Danville, California, formerly of Rock Valley, died Sunday, August 12, in Danville.

Services will be 11:30 A.M. Sunday, August 19, at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley. Burial will be at Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley.

Ray Roorda, youngest son of Hessel S. and Rena (Dykstra) Roorda, was born August 27, 1902, on the family farm south of Rock Valley. He attended country school and developed an interest in fishing, trapping pocket gophers and hunting ducks and pheasants while on the farm. His family moved in 1916 into Rock Valley, which afforded him the opportunity to attend high school, one that most “country boys” did not receive at that time.

During his high school years he participated in sports even through he was small framed and only a little over five feet in height. Because of his diminutive stature, he was known as “Sonny.” While in high school he participated in football, track and basketball. He enjoyed the broad jump and pole vaulting. As a senior, he was the captain of the football team. After graduating from Rock Valley High School in 1923, he attended Iowa State University in Ames for one year. He moved to Los Angeles in 1926. This was a 10-day trip in a Model-T Ford on all dirt and gravel roads. In California he became involved in the construction and oil industries. He later moved into the real estate field. His move to California led the way for several other members of the Roorda clan to establish their lives there. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. His sister, Bessie, moved to California in 1937. They lived together until her death in 1986. They were among the first residents of Sun City, California, in 1971. His move to California allowed him to expand his interest in fishing to deep sea fishing before his death.

As he moved into the role of Roorda family patriarch, he kept in touch with his nieces and nephews. He was consulted frequently as the source for family information and for details of life in early Rock Valley and as a pioneering Californian. At the age of 82, he traveled to the Netherlands with his nephews, Hein and Hessel Kosters, for an adventure-filled trip to research family history. Family members enjoyed many special visits and telephone calls with “Uncle Ray” and in 2002, many of the family from across the country gathered in California to celebrate his 100th birthday. He last visited Rock Valley for the 2000 All-School Reunion. He served as parade marshal and was recognized as being the oldest living graduate of Rock Valley High School. More recently, he donated funds to the Friends of Rock Valley Foundation that were used to install the downtown carillon system. He had pleasant memories of the church bells in Rock Valley when he was a teenager, which was the impetus for this gift. In his later years, he also made generous donations to the Sun City Hospital and Sun City Library.
Approximately two weeks ago he fell and broke a hip, which led to his death. Until then, he enjoyed excellent overall health.

Survivors include a niece, Wilma (Roorda) Poplawski of Seal Beach, California; nephew Hessel Edward Kosters of Walnut Creek, California; niece-in-law, Lorraine (Mrs. Hessel John) Roorda of Rock Valley; grandnephews, Hessel Ray Roorda of Rock Valley, and Matthew Kosters of Rock Valley; and grandnieces Mary Riessen of Rock Valley, Patricia Kosters of Rock Valley, Kathy (Kosters) Clary of Rock Valley, and Arnola (Broek) Wynia of Sioux Center.

He was preceded in death by his siblings, Hessel Roorda, Emma Kosters, a brother in infancy, Detmer Roorda, Spencer Roorda, Alvin Roorda, Aldelphus Roorda and Dora Roorda; and nieces and nephews, Helen (Roorda) Price, Irene (Roorda) Riessen, Hessel John Roorda, Lois (Roorda) Dundan, Rena (Kosters), Luther Roorda, Alma (Roorda) Pfeiffer, Lloyd Hessel Roorda and Noreen (Roorda) Broek.