Gerrit Dokter

     Gerrit “Gary” Dokter was born December 29, 1925, the son of John and Grace (Koerselman) Dokter on a farm near Middleburg, IA.  Gary attended country school at Capel Township #1.  He was united in marriage to Trellis Den Herder on December 1, 1950, at the First Reformed Church in Sioux Center.  They made their home with his parents, on a farm near Middleburg.   Gary was called into serving his country in the United States Army during the Korean War time.  He and Trellis made their home in Sparta, WI until September of 1951, when Gary was sent overseas to Ludwig Germany.  He returned to the states on January 14, 1953 and was Honorably discharged from the service.  He and Trellis began their farming years near Middleburg.  Trellis died in 1994 and Gary later remarried to Elizabeth Kooima on May 20, 1995.  He and Liz spent the last 23 years enjoying life together.  Gary was a lifelong member of the Middleburg Free Grace Reformed Church, where he had served as an Elder and Deacon.  He also was active in the VFW, where he was a past Chaplin.  He enjoyed fishing, playing pool, watching sports, especially the Minnesota Twins and also the Vikings, along with playing cards.  This past Wednesday, August 1, 2018, Gary died unexpectedly at Sioux Center Health at the age of ninety-two.

     He is survived by his wife Elizabeth of Sioux Center; his children, Larry (Judy) Dokter of Orange City, IA; Galen (Barbara) Dokter of Morrison, CO; Joyce (Jim) Zittritsch of Norfolk, NE and Janice (James) Calkhoven of Sioux Falls, SD; step children, Debra (Bruce) Dooyema and Darrell Kooima all of Sioux Center; along with 17 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren.

     He was preceded in death by his first wife, Trellis; his parents, John and Grace Dokter; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Gertrude (Marvin) Van Gorp; Gerdena (John/Arie) Bomgaars and Jeanette (Jake) Vander Griend.