Visser, Gerrit W. 1916-2008

VISSER, AKKERHUIS, BIERMA

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/29/2015 at 21:52:56

Born: October 26, 1916 Sioux Center, Iowa
Died: December 19, 2008 Sioux Center, Iowa

Gerrit W. Visser, 92 of Sioux Center died Fri. Dec. 19, at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center.

A memorial service was Tues. at 11 a.m. at Bethel Christian Reformed Church with Rev. Duane Tinklenberg officiating. Interment was in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

Visser was born Oct. 26, 1916, at Sioux Center, the son of Teunis and Elizabeth (Akkerhuis) Visser. As a boy his family lived in Sioux County, the Netherlands, Grand Rapids, MI. and south central MN. before living near Havana, N.D. for several years. He graduated from Havana High School with the class of 1935. After graduation he farmed in Sioux County. He entered the U.S. Army on July 17, 1942 and served as a medic with 29th Evacuation Hospital in the Pacific Theater of World War II. He provided aid to the wounded while stationed in the Philippines, New Guinea and Luzon, attaining the rank of technical sergeant. After his honorable discharge he married Kathrine Bierma at First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center on Jan. 10, 1946. Following their marriage the couple farmed for eight years near Sioux Center. In 1953, they purchased a farm three miles north of Newkirk, where he farmed until his retirement in 1980. They settled in their home in Sioux Center in 1981.

He served on the Sioux County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, as well as the Sioux County Extension Board. As a supporter of Christian education he was elected to the Hospers Christian School Board, serving a term as president. He had served as a deacon and elder while a member of First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center; most recently was a member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center.

Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Kathrine Visser of Sioux Center, his four children and their spouses, Dennis and Karen Visser of Iowa City, IA. Gaylene and Loren Bouma of Hull, Bernita and Doug Vander Schaaf of Visalia, CA. and Phyllis and Bob Blankespoor of Inwood; 15 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; a brother and sister-in-law Peter and Muriel Visser of Sioux Center; sister Adrianna "Toots" Kots of Birnamwood, Wis; sisters-in-law, Theresa Visser and Gertrude Visser, both of Sioux Center; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, William, Gilbert, and John Visser.

Source: Local paper after 12/19/2008