Boonstra, Rudolph "Rudy" Dean 1934-2020

BOONSTRA, EXTRA, MOUW, VOGEL

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

Mr. Rudolph “Rudy” Boonstra, age 86, of Orange City, left this life to spend eternity at the feet of Jesus on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, at the Orange City Area Health System.

There will be a memorial service on Saturday, November 14, at 11:00am, at the Living Water Community Church in Orange City. The Rev. Garry Nyenhuis will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. There will be a family prayer service on Saturday, at 10:00am, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City. Visitation without the family will be on Friday, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the funeral home.

Rudolph “Rudy” Dean was born on January 23, 1934, in Maurice, the son of Dick and Anna (Extra) Boonstra. Weighing just two pounds, four ounces at birth, he was not expected to live. His parents tucked him into a shoebox and kept him warm by the wood-burning stove. Shortly after his birth, his father passed away, leaving his mother to care for him and his five older brothers and sisters. After World War II, the family moved to Orange City, where Rudy attended the Orange City Christian School for six years and graduated from the Orange City Public School in 1953.

He joined the Air Force in 1954, serving three years in Texas and one year in Korea. Following his discharge, he attended the Reformed Bible Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for three years. He then accepted a position with Malecki Music in Grand Rapids as a clerk in the instrument department. He then became an office manager and was proud to work for the largest music store in the nation for forty years. He was one of fifty employees that served every church in the United States and fifty foreign countries.

After retirement in 1998, Rudy moved back to Orange City to be close to his mother and siblings. He held a number of part-time jobs, including the Hatchery Restaurant, the Downtown Grille, and the community’s Senior Center. He lived at the Pioneer Memorial Home, in an apartment across the hall from his beloved sister, Mary Mouw.

Mr. Boonstra was a faithful member of the Living Water Community Church in Orange City, where he was fondly known as the Tootsie Roll Man. He loved cats, and cared for many over the years, was an avid music lover, and particularly enjoyed classical and sacred music. He also enjoyed posting little trivia questions or puzzles to his Facebook page, teasing people to solve them.

Rudy lived for 86 years, 9 months, and 18 days, blessing people of all generations with his warmth, kindness, humor, and grace. Those living to cherish his memory include his sister, Mary Mouw, of Orange City; a brother-in-law, Frank Vogel, of Orange City; a sister-in-law, Velma Boonstra, of Spencer; a step-brother and his wife, Arie and Mary Lou Noteboom, Jr., of Orange City; three step-sisters-in-law, Leona Noteboom, Carol Noteboom, and Joan, and her husband, Gerald Niezen, all of Orange City; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Harold Boonstra, and his wife, Ann; Robert Boonstra, and his wife, Myrna, and Norm Boonstra; a sister, Lois Vogel; four step-brothers, Peter Noteboom; Thomas Noteboom, and his wife, Elinor; Vernon Noteboom, and his first wife, Bernice; and Ronald Noteboom; and a step-sister and her husband, Luetta and Glenn Oolman.

Memorials may be directed to the music department at Northwestern College.

Source: Oolman Funeal Home online obituary.