Koerselman, Clifford "Cliff" 1936-2023

KOERSELMAN, SMIT, OLTMANNS

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/20/2023 at 13:59:53

Clifford ‘Cliff’ Koerselman, 87, of Le Mars, Iowa, passed away Friday, November 17, 2023, at his home in Le Mars surrounded by his family.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at Christ Lutheran Church – Grant Township, 27071 C16, rural Le Mars, Iowa. Reverend Trish Underberg and Vicar Grace Braun will officiate. Burial with military honors provided by the Heeren-McHale-Wilkens American Legion Post 724 of Brunsville will be at Christ Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will begin at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at Christ Lutheran Church. There will be a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars, Iowa. Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

Clifford Lee Koerselman, the son of Gerrit and Emma (Smit) Koerselman, was born on May 17, 1936, in Hull, Iowa. He attended country school in Sioux County, Iowa, and later high school in Sioux Center, Iowa. He graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1953. Following high school, he worked various jobs in the Sioux Center area.

He enlisted in the United States Army on January 13, 1956. He served his country while stationed stateside at Ft. Meyer, Virginia, adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery. He was discharged from active duty on January 12, 1958, and joined the Reserves. He was honorably discharged from the Reserves on September 30, 1961. After returning to Sioux Center, he went to work for the Sioux Center Creamery hauling milk.

He was united in marriage to Verda Oltmanns on September 28, 1960, at Christ Lutheran Church, rural Le Mars, Iowa. He continued working for the creamery. In 1961, they moved to a farm near Middleburg, Iowa, and he began farming. In 1963, they moved to the family farm in Grant Township, rural Plymouth County, Iowa. He farmed and raised livestock. In 2003, they moved to their home in Le Mars. After moving to Le Mars, Cliff still enjoyed helping his son on the farm as well as area farmers.

He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church – Grant Township, where he had been council president, deacon, trustee, active in men’s group, and served on the cemetery board. He was also a member of the Heeren-McHale-Wilkens American Legion Post 724 of Brunsville. He served on the Plymouth County Zoning Board and worked for the A.S.C.S. office in Le Mars. He was active in the Town and Country Toy Club for many years. He and Verda enjoyed traveling to Texas to visit their daughter, stopping in Branson, Missouri, on many of those trips. He also enjoyed golfing and bowling. Socializing and having coffee with his friends and family was also an enjoyment for Cliff.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Verda of Le Mars; a son: Bruce (Beth) Koerselman of Le Mars, IA, and their children: Katy (Francois) Brand, Konner Koerselman, and Kody Koerselman; a son: Doug Koerselman of Sioux City, IA, and his children: Parker Koerselman (Chloe), Hannah Koerselman (Mac) and her daughter, Jaylin, and Levi Koerselman; a daughter: Jolynn (Clark) Goodchild of Le Mars, IA, and their children: Amber (Pat) Goodchild-Loftus, and Sarah (Chad) Martin and their children, Myles and Blake; a daughter, Sandra (Randy) Christy of Kemah, TX; and a son: Keith (Kristin) Koerselman of Le Mars, IA, and their children, Keaton Koerselman (fiancé, Alaina), and Kaleb Koerselman; his sisters-in-law, Wanda Oltmanns, Karen Hartman, and Jeanette Jensen; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gerrit and Emma Koerselman; his father and mother-in-law, J. Henry and Amanda Oltmanns; his siblings: Cornie (Elizabeth) Koerselman, Gary (Leona) Koerselman, Teneva (Bill) Kroon, Gerdena (Marion) Wissink, and Esther (Bill) Plantage; and his in laws: Wendell Oltmanns, Merlyn ‘Mert’ (JoAnn) Oltmanns, Arlan Oltmanns, and Randall Jensen.

Source: Rexwinkel Funeral Home online obituary.