Koerselman, Gary 1919-2015

KOERSELMAN, SMIT, OOSTENINK

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/14/2015 at 13:04:08

Gary Koerselman, 95, of Sioux Center, IA, died Monday, March 9, 2015, at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center.

A visitation will be held on Sunday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 4-6PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

A prayer service for family and friends will be held on Monday at 9:45AM at the Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Interment will follow the prayer service in Capel Township Cemetery of Middleburg, Iowa.

A memorial service will be held on Monday at 11:00AM at the Central Reformed Church with Reverend Stephen Breen officiating.

The Koerselman family prefers memorials to Love In The Name Of Christ of Greater Canton.

Gary Koerselman was born on August 15, 1919 to Gerrit and Emma (Smit) Koerselman. He was raised on a farm near Middleburg, Iowa. Gary attended country school, graduated from Sioux Center High School, attended Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa and Nettleton Commercial College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

In 1937, Gary met Leona Joyce Oostenink at a Hull Christian Endeavor get-together. They were married on September 24, 1941 at her parent’s home at rural Hull, Iowa. Leona preceded him in death on November 3, 2007.

Gary farmed with his father for one year, and then enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He served as a Personnel Clerk at Visalia, California for 2½ years, and 1 year overseas. Upon his return home he worked for D.K. Baxter Company in Sioux City for 1½ years. Gary and Leona then farmed near Middleburg for 22 years on the Koerselman family farm.

Gary and Leona left the farm in November of 1968 and moved into Sioux Center. Gary worked two years for Plasier Plumbing, and then sold Moorman feeds for 13 years before he retired.

He was a member of Middleburg Free Grace Reformed Church and currently a member of Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Gary loved music, gardening, woodworking, and politics. Gary played violin in the Sioux County Orchestra for several years. Gary & Leona sang with the Senior Saints group of northwest Iowa.

Survivors include his four daughters and sons-in-law: Glenda and Glenn Brower and Laura and Bob Vermeer of Omaha, NE; Wanda Van Sloten of Houston, TX; Karen and Curt Brandes of Canton, SD; 12 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; sisters: Gerdena Wissink and Esther Plantage of Sioux Center; brother and sister-in-law, Cliff and Verda Koerselman of Le Mars; sisters-in-law, June Broek of Hull, Myne Kooiker of Sheldon along with numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife Leona Koerselman, Gary was preceded in death by his son, Gary H. Koerselman; son-in-law, Rick Van Sloten; his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Cornie and Elizabeth Koerselman; sister and brother-in-law, Teneva and Bill Kroon; brothers-in-law: Marion Wissink, Bill Plantage, & nephew Vincent Dale Koerselman, brothers-in-law; Richard Oostenink, John Smit Jr., Al Broek, Art Kooiker; & nephew: Dennis Oostenink.

Source: Memorial Funeral Home online obituary.