Bolkema, John Lloyd 1930-2021

BOLKEMA, DEBOER, FEIKEMA

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:34

Mr. John Bolkema, age 91, of Hull, passed away on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at the Crown Pointe Estates in Sioux Center.

There will be a funeral service on Saturday, May 8, at 10:30am, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Hull. The Rev. Loren Kotman will officiate. Interment will follow the service at the Hope Cemetery in Hull. Visitation with the family will be on Saturday, from 9:00am to 10:30am, on the lower level of the church. Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Hull.

The service will be lived streamed on the church's YouTube Channel at: www.youtube.com/channel/UCVrri9JMb--2ZQMOXfUc0aw/featured
A recording of the funeral will also be available after the service.

John Lloyd was born on January 23, 1930, in Hartley, the son of John D. and Winnie (De Boer) Bolkema. He grew up in Holland, Minnesota, where he attended country school until his family moved to Rock Valley, where he was a student at the Rock Valley Christian School. Following his graduation from Western Christian High School in Hull, he attended classes at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the University of South Dakota, and North Dakota State University, earning his master’s degree in education. In 1952, he enlisted in the United States Army and served for two years during the Korean Conflict.

He was united in marriage to Elizabeth “Betty” Feikema on June 1, 1956, in Inwood. They first made their home in Inwood before settling in Hull, where he was a teacher at Western Christian High School for many years. He was also instrumental in starting the Hull Volunteer Ambulance Team and was an instructor for first responder classes in the area.

Mr. Bolkema was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church, where he had served as an elder and clerk for the church council. He was also a member of the Wegman-Koele American Legion Post in Hull.

John and Betty made more than 20 trips to Cary, Mississippi, to help with various projects and they made many trips to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to help with church services at the Cornerstone Prison Church. John also volunteered at Hope Haven’s wheelchair ministries. He enjoyed going fishing and camping, as well as spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife of almost 65 years, Betty, of Hull; three children and their spouses, Allan and Janna Bolkema, and Karen and Curt De Koning, all of Sioux Center; and Donna and Dan Drey, of Winterset; eight grandchildren, Elizabeth (Jeremy) Winter; Jonathan Bolkema; Sara (Joel) Vande Griend; Katie De Koning; Kristi De Koning; Dirk De Koning, and his fiancé, Nicole Tubergen; Austin Drey; and Marc Drey; four great-grandchildren, Henry and Joanna Winter, and Brendan and Whitleigh Vande Griend; a brother, Norman (Bess) Bolkema, of Phoenix, Arizona; a sister-in-law, Elaine Bolkema, of Rock Valley; and his wife’s siblings, Karolyn Van Engen, of Sioux Center; Marge (Bill) Van Surksum, of Sheldon; Ann Feikema, of Sioux Falls; Arlene (Art) Stellinga, of Rock Valley; Casey (Rose) Feikema, of Luverne, Minnesota; and Lori (Ron) Bruxvoort, of Longmont, Colorado.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Keith Drey; three sisters, Bernice Bolkema; Lucille (Henry) Veltkamp; and Johanna (Arvid) Van Gelder; four brothers, Kenneth (Lucy) Bolkema; Marvin (Nina) Bolkema; Leonard Bolkema; and Leroy Bolkema; and Betty’s brothers-in-law, Ken Kelderman and Arn Van Engen.

Memorials may be directed to Western Christian High School, Hope Haven, or Cornerstone Prison Church.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.