Lambert BARKEMA

BARKEMA, PALS, GRUIS, BUSEMAN, DORENKAMP, GUTH, CLIFTON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/13/2007 at 20:24:51

Lambert Barkema, age 98, of Belmond, passed away Friday (May 11, 2007) at the Belmond Medical Center in Belmond. Funeral services for Lambert Barkema will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 14, at Immanuel Reformed Church, east of Belmond, Iowa, with pastors Rodney Meester and Mike Druhl officiating. Burial will be in the Belmond Cemetery. Visitation for Lambert Barkema will be held from 4-7 p.m. today at the Dugger Ewing Funeral Home, 111 Luick's Lane S. in Belmond, and one hour prior to the services at the church on Monday.

Lambert Barkema was born Jan. 11, 1909, on the home farm near Palsville, Iowa. He was the oldest of 10 children, the son of Dick and Minnie (Pals) Barkema. He attended country school through the eighth grade and then helped his father farm. Lambert attended and was baptized in the Palsville Reformed Church (now Immanuel Reformed Church). He was active in the church, serving as an elder and deacon. In 1938, Lambert moved to one of his father's farms by Goodell and began farming on his own. Lambert and Genaveva Bertha Gruis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gruis, were married on Jan. 1, 1941. To this union three children were born: Donna (Harold) Buseman, Dennis (Betty) Barkema, and Byron (Sherry) Barkema. When the children were all married, he and Gen took up golfing and bowling. Lambert was a very kind, caring man. He was a person who never wanted to hurt anyone's feelings and would do his best to be sure no one ever felt left out or slighted in any way. He was actively bowling at age 96. The last few years he still spent time at the bowling alley watching his teammates bowl. Gen and Lambert had a winter home in Haines City, Fla., for 18 years. These later years, you could find Lambert enjoying coffee time with the Bloemke Coffee Gang.

Lambert is survived by his wife, Gen; his daughter, Donna (Harold) Buseman of Belmond; two sons, Dennis (Betty) Barkema of Goodell and Byron (Sherry) Barkema of Minnesota; two sisters, Esther Dorenkamp of Mason City and Amelia Guth of Meservey; three brothers, Ben Barkema of Clarion, Arnold Barkema of Belmond, and Dick Barkema Jr. of Goodell; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Lambert is preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter, Tammy Clifton; three sisters; and one brother. Dugger Ewing Funeral Home, Belmond, (641) 444-3248.

Mason City Globe Gazette 5/12/2007