Katje, Frank L. 1923-2012

KATJE, KRAGT, SIEBERSMA

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg- volunteer (email)
Date: 6/20/2012 at 17:21:20

Frank L. Katje
May 19, 1923 - June 15, 2012
Mr. Frank Katje, age 89, of Orange City, passed away on Friday, June 15, 2012, at his residence.
Service: June 20, at the Redeemer United Reformed Church in Orange City.
Interment will be prior to the service at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City.
Frank Lester was born on May 19, 1923, in Orange City, the son of August and Alice (Kragt) Katje. He was raised at Orange City, where he attended the Christian School and graduated from the Northwestern Academy. On June 30, 1942, he married Edna Siebersma in Orange City. He then served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1945. Through the Air Corps, he attended Elkin College in West Virginia for one year.
Frank and Edna first made their home in Orange City, where he was employed by Groen Plumbing and Heating. He later owned and operated Katje Painting and involved his family in operating a mink ranch. In 1965, they moved to Escondido, California, where he painted and owned a chicken ranch. In 1969, they returned to Orange City, where they operated the Sav-On Discount Grocery Store. They went back to California in 1973, and he became a licensed realtor, building many of their own houses. For the past ten years, they have lived in Orange City. They also spent many winters in Mesa, Arizona, and summers at the Birch Haven Resort in Tenstrike, Minnesota.
Frank loved the Lord and was a faithful member of the Redeemer United Reformed Church. Over the years, he served on the board of directors of the Orange City Christian School, attended Bible studies, and sang in church choirs. He also belonged to American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars Posts.
He enjoyed sharing with his children and grandchildren many of his hobbies, including bowling, fishing, and golfing. He liked doing odd jobs for family members and working/playing on his computer. In later years, he and Edna completed many crossword and Suduko puzzles together.
Survivors include his wife of almost seventy years; seven children and their spouses, Ronald and Judy (Reinking) Katje, of Seal Beach, California; Cheryle and Darrell Van Klompenburg, of Chandler, Arizona; Arlyn Katje, Conley and Anita (Bons) Katje, all of San Marcos, California; Karen and Arlin Klein, Edwin and Heather (Hogan) Katje, and Beverly and Bert Van Dam, all of Orange City; 23 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren; a sister, Agnes Van Zee Damkot, of Sheldon; and a sister-in-law, Louise Katje, of Galvaston, Texas.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Kenneth Dale Katje; two grandsons, Robert James Van Dam and Anthony Gene Katje; a brother, Gerald Katje; and two brothers-in-law, Alvin Van Zee and Warren Damkot.
Source: Oolman Funeral Home, Orange City, IA., obit.