Van Den Top, Grace (Mrs. Elmer) 1935-2015

VAN DEN TOP, BLOEMENDAAL, BAKKER

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/14/2015 at 13:12:57

Grace Van Den Top, 79, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Wednesday, February, 25, 2015 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Funeral service will be Monday, March 2, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at the Protestant Reformed Church in Doon, Iowa with Rev. Joshua Engelsma officiating. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery, Doon. Visitation, with family present, will be Saturday, February 28, 2015 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley. In lieu of flowers, memorials will be given to Northwest Iowa Protestant Reformed School or Trinity Christian High (Hull). Condolences may be left for the family at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Grace (Bloemendaal) Van Den Top, daughter of Cornelius and Hattie (Bakker) Bloemendaal, was born October 26, 1935 at Doon, Iowa. She attended Doon Christian School, Western Christian High School, and Northwestern College, where she received her teaching certificate. Grace taught at Bigelow Christian School, Lebanon Christian School, Rock Rapids Christian School and Northwest Iowa Protestant Reformed School. On August 8, 1958 Grace was united in marriage with Elmer Van Den Top at Doon. The couple made their home in Rock Valley, Iowa where they raised their six children. Grace enjoyed gardening, sewing, knitting, camping, reading, fishing, singing, and playing instruments. Her first and foremost love was her children and grandchildren.

Grace is survived by her husband of 56 years, Elmer; six children, Charlene (Perry) Van Egdom of Doon; Mark (Darsha) Van Den Top of Rock Valley; Lois (Myron) Klarenbeek of Rock Valley; Audrey (Brent) Meyer of Doon; Laura (Philip) Kuiper of Doon; and Lynne (Brad) Van Grootheest of Hull, Iowa; 23 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; sister, Fannie Riemersma of Gig Harbor, Washington; and brother, Nick (Tressa) Bloemendaal of Doon.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Cornelius and Hattie; three brothers, William (Hilda) Bloemendaal, Eilert (Pearl) Bloemendaal, and Pete (Jennie) Bloemendaal; two sisters, Jennie (Cornie) Klarenbeek and Margaret (William) Roghair; brother-in-law, John Riemersma; and granddaughter, Emily Van Egdom.

Source: Porter Funeral Home online obituary.