Van Voorst, Carol (Mrs. Clarence) 1940-2024

VANVOORST, WESSELINK, SANDBULTE

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/24/2024 at 15:00:18

Mrs. Carol Van Voorst, age 83, of Hull, went to be with her Lord and Savior on May 26, 2024.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Wednesday, May 29, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm, at the Carmel Reformed Church in rural Rock Valley. There will be a funeral service on Thursday, May 30, at 10:30am, at the church with the Rev. Mike Pitsenberger and the Rev. Brad Langstraat officiating. Interment will follow the service at the Carmel Cemetery in rural Rock Valley. The Oolman Funeral Home in Hull is in charge of arrangements.

Carol Rose was born on December 23, 1940, on a farm near Carmel, the thirteenth of fifteen children born to Henry and Minerva (Wesselink) Sandbulte. She attended the Carmel Country School through the eighth grade. As a kid, she helped on the farm with various chores and later worked as a cook at the Sioux Center School and as a waitress at the Carmel Café inside the Franken Garage.

Carol soon met Clarence Van Voorst, and after a brief courtship they were united in marriage on February 13, 1961, at the Carmel Reformed Church. Together, they spent their early married life living in several communities in northwest Iowa including Carmel, Sioux Center, and Boyden. In 1969, they settled on an acreage west of Perkins Corner, where they made their home and raised their family, and many life lessons were learned. Clarence passed away on April 3, 2019, in Sioux Center, after more than 58 years of marriage.

Carol had a servant heart and was not afraid of hard work and dirty jobs. She appreciated having things neat and tidy and was willing to put in the work to make it so. She often said, “work is a blessing, and the strength to do it even more so.” Carol was a lifelong member of the Carmel Reformed Church, she faithfully served for many decades meticulously manicuring the churchyard and cemetery, along with teaching some of her kids and grandkids the ropes of lawncare. She also filled the role of church custodian for a period of time and volunteered to help with vacation Bible school as well as participating in church Bible studies and prayer meetings. Her family all knew when she was in prayer, watching Billy Graham, or listening to Chuck Swindoll, you did not want to interrupt her.

She cherished time spent with her children and grandchildren; hosting her famous “Sunday Dinners” that she so generously and faithfully served to her ever growing family each week. One of Carol’s gifts was hospitality. She had a special way of making people feel welcome and guests would often hear the phrase, “make yourself at home!” Not only did Carol work hard, but she played hard as well, and was known to pull off a few good pranks. She enjoyed games like Snap, Rook, and Wahoo, pulling the grandkids in sleds behind the 4-wheeler, swimming in the tank, or playing a ball game . . . and there was nothing like a good old water fight. It was pure joy for her to be surrounded by her whole family. She loved to attend her grandchildren’s activities and was a huge supporter and encourager to each one of them in her own special way.

On May 26, 2024, at the age of 83 years, 5 months, and 3 days, Carol went to be with her Lord and Savior. What a comfort to know that she trusted Jesus as her Lord. We rejoice in her deliverance but grieve for our loss.

Survivors include her five children, Melinda Nibbelink, of Orange City; Minerva, and her husband, Rich Kooiker, of Middleburg; and Marlin Van Voorst, and his wife, Paula; Mark Van Voorst, and his wife, Kristi; and Misty, and her husband, Tom Zwart, all of Hull; 22 grandchildren, Becky (Eric) Ochsendorf, Adam (Sarah) Nibbelink, Caleb (Lindsay) Nibbelink, Joni (Scott) Metzger, Joseph (Rachel) Kooiker, Carol Kooiker, Kate (Darren) Broersma, Chad (Kristen) Kooiker, Andra Kooiker, Keaton (Jamie) Van Voorst, Kinzie (Tyson) Brown, Kassidy (Sean) Robinson, Kade (Morgan) Van Voorst, Beau Van Voorst, Benjamin Van Voorst, Bradyn (Jennifer Kooiker) Van Voorst, Brynn Van Voorst, Marcus Van Voorst, Brody Van Voorst, Emma Zwart, Ella Zwart, and Elyse Zwart; 25 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Lois Van Maanen and Henrietta Van Kley, both of Rock Valley; and Norma (John) Boogerd, of Hull; eight sisters-in-law, Leona Sandbulte, of Luverne, Minnesota; Jeanette (John) Van Ginkel, of Rock Valley; Joyce Van Voorst, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Shirley Van Voorst and Mary Driesen, both of Rock Valley; Joanne Driesen, of Sioux Center; Cynthia Amick, of Jefferson City, Missouri; and Ruth (Jake) Anker, of Chilliwack, British Columbia; two brothers-in-law, Tunis (Jacqui) Van Voorst, of Custer, South Dakota; and Henry (Judy) Van Voorst, of Sioux Falls; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and many other extended family.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by an infant son, Chad Allan Van Voorst; her parents-in-law, Henry and Gertie Van Voorst; a son-in-law, Terry Nibbelink; two sisters, Johanna (Arnold) Punt and Muriel (Robert) Oostra; nine brothers, John Edwin Sandbulte, Bernard Sandbulte, James (Janice) Sandbulte, Delmar John Sandbulte, Kenneth (Florence) Sandbulte, Milton (Thelma) Sandbulte, Delmar (Betty) Sandbulte, Norman Lee Sandbulte, and Harvard Ivan Sandbulte; and eight brothers-in-law, Harold Van Maanen, Arnold Van Kley, Jake (Carrie) Van Voorst, Gerald Van Voorst, John Van Voorst, Gary Amick, Harv Driesen, and Harold Driesen.

Memorials will be given to the Carmel Cemetery Fund.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.