Bert COELING

COELING, COELINGH, BENNEMA, DEBOER, EEKHOFF, HAGEN, PETERS, MILLER, CHRISTIANS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/12/2012 at 13:33:08

1 December 1919 -- 3 April 2006

Bert Coeling, 86, of Kanawha, Iowa, passed away exactly at noon on Monday, April 3, 2006 at the North Iowa Hospice in Mason City, Iowa. His two daughters and son-in-laws were by his side and one of his favorite songs, In the Sweet Bye and Bye was playing in the background.

Bert was born Bartel Coelingh in Hoogeveen, Drenthe province, NL on December 1, 1919; the fourth of five children born to Wessel and Aaltje (Bennema) Coelingh. He grew up in Hoogeveen and was a member of the Dutch Army when the country was overrun by the Nazis in World War II. He and his brother, Gerrit, were forced into hiding and they served in the Dutch underground resistance throughout the war. Gerrit was killed by the Nazis as they retreated during the final days of the war and the desire for a change led to Bert’s immigration to the US in December of 1946.

Bert lived in St. Louis, MO; and later in Hollandale, MN; where he met his future wife, Martha Marie DeBoer. They both moved and worked in Grand Rapids, MI before they were married in Hollandale on July 20, 1950 by Rev. Anthony Koning. They then returned to Grand Rapids and both their daughters, Phyllis and Marilyn were born there. They moved to Renwick, IA with their family to help John and Viola Eekhoff with their farm work in 1953. They later moved to a farm east of Kanawha and farmed there until they moved into Kanawha in 1980. Bert retired from farming in 1986. Bert and Martha were married for 52 years when Martha passed away on May 14, 2003.

Bert was a lifetime member of the Christian Reformed Church, both in the Netherlands and the US. He was a member of the consistory in the Kanawha church for several years and was a strong example of his faith. His Dutch heritage was also demonstrated by his love for tulips and he helped organize a display of tulips in the shape of a cross currently growing in Kanawha.

Bert is survived by his two daughters and son-in-laws, Phyllis and Jeff Hagen; and Marilyn and Roger Peters, all of Woodbury, MN; five grandchildren; Derek, Vanessa and Kyle Hagen; and Meleah and husband, Troy Miller; and Daniel Peters. He is also survived by many sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews in the US, NL, Brazil, and Canada. Two special sister-in-laws in Kanawha, Evelyn Christians and Viola Eekhoff, helped watch out for Bert after Martha passed away. Bert was preceded in death by his mother, Aaltje in 1951, father, Wessel in 1953, and siblings; Gerrit in 1945, Albert and Aaltje in 1997, and Antiena in 1998 and several brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws.

A visitation will be held at the Dugger Ewing Funeral Home in Kanawha from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday April 5, with services at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 6, at the Kanawha Christian Reformed Church. Interment will follow at the Amsterdam Township Cemetery in Kanawha.