Louis VAN DRIE, Sr.

VAN DRIE, HALL, ROBERTS, VANDER WOUDE, RICKETTS, RHOADS, YOCKEY, BOOMKER, GOODWIN, VAN DRIE-HALL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 9/15/2007 at 21:51:25

Louis Van Drie Sr., 1929-2007

Louis G. Van Drie Sr., 78, of Columbia died peacefully at home in the early hours of the morning Monday, Sept. 3, 2007, after a long battle with cancer. A brief time of memorial fellowship will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, at Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W. in Columbia. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with a gravesite farewell immediately following.

Louis was born to Gerrit and Sophia Van Drie of Ashton, Iowa, on March 7, 1929. He was united in marriage to Shirley Jean Boomker at Bethany Reformed Church in Roseland, Ill., on Oct. 25, 1952. He served his country during the Korean War from 1951 to 1953 in the 407th Combat Engineering Battalion in Fort Campbell, Ky./Fort Meade, Md., as both 1st mess hall cook and supply sergeant. He farmed for more than 17 years and was a successful Trojan Seed dealer throughout northwestern Iowa. In 1977 he moved his family to Columbia to help the Christian Reformed Church Board of Home Missions build a church, at which time he went into the real estate business with Re/Max of Columbia. He went on to hold several sales positions throughout Columbia, from foreign and domestic car sales to Electrolux vacuums. He was best know for his tremendous faith in Jesus Christ and never forsook a minute not to share about the God that he served with others. Louie loved being involved with his children's activities throughout their youth and was president of the Hickman High School PTSA during those years as well as holding several youth activities with his wife at their home in Columbia. He shared at the prison Chapel on Monday nights as a VIC. He was a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International and sold real estate up until 10 months of the date of his death simply because of the effects of the cancer treatments. He was a man of great integrity and believed strongly in family and his faith in God. A husband, father, grandfather and special soul, he will be missed by many.

He leaves behind his bride of nearly 55 years, Shirley Van Drie of Columbia; seven children and their spouses, Louis G. Van Drie Jr. and James and Sheryl Goodwin of Columbia, Kevin and Sandra Yockey of Anthon, Iowa, Lorin and Pam Van Drie of Marshfield, Leroy and Mary Van Drie of Independence, Brad and Shawn Ricketts of Hallsville, and Dr. Bart V. and Sara Rhoads of Jefferson City; two brothers, a sister and a sister-in-law, Gerhardt and Char Van Drie of El Segundo, Calif., John and Joyce Van Drie of Lansing, Ill., and Sophie Roberts of Belmond, Iowa, and Gladys Van Drie of Estes Park, Color.; 19 grandchildren and four great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and several special adopted family members. He was preceded in death by a brother and sister of Iowa, state Sen. Rudy Van Drie of Ames and Jeannette Van Drie-Hall of Belmond; as well as both of his parents; a brother-in-law, Milo Roberts of Belmond; sister-in-law Muriel Vander Woude of Chicago; and daughter-in-law Janis Van Drie of Springfield.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family c/o Memorial Funeral Home, 1217 Business Loop 70 W., Columbia, Mo., 65202. Memorial condolences may be made via e-mail to sararhoads@earthlink.net or mailed to the family, attn: Shirley Van Drie and Family, 2395 E. Alfalfa Drive, Columbia, Mo., 65202.

Columbia Daily Tribune (MO)
September 4, 2007