Woudstra, Irwin "Irv" Wendell 1938-2021

WOUDSTRA, REINSMA, ELGERSMA

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/18/2021 at 13:39:41

Mr. Irwin Woudstra, age 83, of Hospers, passed away on Monday, November 1, 2021, at the Sanford USD Medical Center and Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

There will be a funeral service on Friday, November 5, at 10:30am, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Hospers. The Rev. Duane Tinklenberg and The Rev. Aaron Gonzalez will officiate. Following a time of lunch and fellowship, interment will be at the Hospers Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be on Thursday, from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, at the church.

Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Hospers.

Irwin Wendell was born on September 24, 1938, in rural Hospers, the son of Isaac “Ike” and Willemina (Reinsma) Woudstra. He was raised on a farm near Hospers and attended the Hospers Christian Elementary School and the Western Christian High School in Hull. “Irv” joined the United States Army in 1957, and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Fort Ord, California. He was medically discharged after serving his country for a year and proceeded to work for his dad at Woudstra Pack in Hospers. He went on to buy Woudstra Pack and owned it for several years before purchasing a grocery store, Irv’s Clover Farm. After owning the grocery store for a number of years, he sold it and worked for Woudstra Meats in Orange City for a short time. He missed owning his own business and repurchased Irv‘s Clover Farm for a second time. He owned the grocery store for several more years before selling again. Not wanting to give up working completely, he worked for Casey’s Bakery part-time in Sioux Center, before completely retiring.

He married the love of his life, Marlene Elgersma, on June 25, 1958, at the Sanborn Christian Reformed Church. Irv was a life-long member of First Christian Reformed Church of Hospers. He faithfully served in various capacities, such as elder, deacon, Cadet leader, and also as janitor for a time. Irv also served on the Hospers Christian School and Western Christian School Boards. He enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids and faithfully attended all of their events. Irv also enjoyed golfing, boating, and time at the lake in Minnesota with family. He spent countless hours entertaining his kids and grandkids on the water. In his younger years, he also enjoyed playing on church league softball teams, where he manned first base. He also played a mean game of horse on the driveway and always had the unstoppable left-handed hook! Irv loved to sing and was part of a quartet for most of his life.

Grateful for having shared his life, are his wife of more than 63 years, Marlene; their three children and their spouses, Cindy and Gene Vander Griend, of Sioux Falls; Kris and Kevin Kooistra, of Hospers; and Jay and Dawn Woudstra, of Sioux Falls; six grandchildren, Brent Vander Griend, and his wife, Tracy; Nathan Vander Griend, and his wife, Erin; Kelly Kooistra, and his wife, Liz; Keith Kooistra, and his wife, Brittney; Jordyn Woudstra; and Joel Woudstra, and his wife, Katie; ten great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Trudy Woudstra and Betty Elgersma; and a brother-in-law and his wife, Jack and Carol Elgersma.

In addition to his parents and his wife’s parents, Jake and Nellie Elgersma, he was proceded in death by a brother, Lloyd Woudstra; a sister and her husband, Gwen and Bernie Bousema, two sisters-in-law, Francis Jacobsen; and Janice, and her husband Jim Van Engen; and a brother-in-law, Pierson Elgersma.

Memorials may be directed to the Hospers Ambulance Services.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.