Oldenkamp, George 1924-2024

OLDENKAMP, CANNEGIETER, TALSMA

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/24/2024 at 15:48:44

ROCK VALLEY, IOWA ~ George Oldenkamp, 100, of Rock Valley, died Friday, May 24, 2024, at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley.

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 31, 2024, at First Reformed Church in Rock Valley with Rev. Cliff Hoekstra officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley. The funeral service will be livestreamed on the church website at www.rvfrc.org.

Geroge Oldenkamp was born January 9, 1924, on a farm northwest of Rock Valley, Iowa to Adrian and Nellie (Cannegieter) Oldenkamp. The Oldenkamps moved to a farm southwest of Rock Valley, where George first met a neighbor, Johanna Talsma. He attended rural school until eighth grade, graduating with honors. George worked on the farm and hired out doing farm work. He married Johanna Talsma on April 2, 1946. They lived on a farm northwest of Rock Valley until 1958, moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, until 1961, then returned to farm north of Rock Valley. They purchased a farm near Alvord in 1973 and lived happily there until 2007 when they retired to a new home in Rock Valley. George continued to farm until he was 85. He took care of Johanna for several years until she moved to Pleasant Acres in Hull and passed away in January 2015. George continued to live at home by himself. He celebrated his 100th birthday in January 2024, and later that month moved to Whispering Heights.

George loved to farm and was always happiest being in the fields and preparing for planting and harvest. He enjoyed caring for animals, and we remembering him getting up twice a night to deliver baby pigs. He especially enjoyed raising cattle, and he and Johanna often took trips to Nebraska and South Dakota to buy calves. He served on the board of Farmer’s Elevator Company from 1971-1988. He joined the First Reformed Church when he married Johanna and remained a member through life. George had a wonderful dry sense of humor and had many stories of his farming adventures that he shared with us throughout our lives. He was a loving father and wonderful Grandpa to his three grandchildren, who always spent time on the farm in the summer. He continued to have a keen memory until his last days, and always knew who farmed or lived anywhere in the vicinity. We will miss his stable presence, his strong faith, and his fierce independence. Thank you to all the caregivers, especially Shirleen Post and Evelyn Bajema, who helped Dad stay independent.

George is survived by his daughters, Sandi Oldenkamp of Portland, Oregon, and Garneth Peterson and her husband Brian of St. Paul, Minnesota; grandchildren Eric, Kirstin and Julia Peterson.

He was preceded in death by his wife Johanna, parents and three brothers, John, Sidney, and Harold.

Source: Porter Funeral Home online obituary.