Linda Harskamp

     Linda Marie Harskamp, 71, of Sioux Center, died Tuesday, July 17, after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by loved ones at Sioux Center Health.

      Memorial service will be at 11:00 AM Saturday, July 21 at Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center with Rev. Van Rathbun officiating.

      Visitation will be held 5-7 PM Friday, July 20, with family present, at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

     Linda Marie (Hughes) Harskamp was born February 24, 1947 in Missouri Valley, Iowa, the daughter of Robert and LaVera (Berry) Hughes.  She was raised in Missouri Valley and graduated from high school there in 1965.  Linda continued her education at Nettleton Business College in Sioux City, Iowa.  It was there that she met and fell in love with her husband of over 51 years, Jim Harskamp.  They were united in marriage on February 3, 1967.  The young couple began their lives together residing in Des Moines, Iowa before moving back to Jim’s hometown of Sioux Center, Iowa.  Jim and Linda were blessed with four children: Cyndy, Chad, Clint, and Craig.  The family was blessed by the two days of Clint’s life before his passing on Easter Sunday 1979, and this continues to be a reminder of the promise and hope of Easter.

      Linda was a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother.  She loved her family dearly and enjoyed spending time with them.  Some of her most cherished times were those spent traveling to the annual Hughes family reunions, winter trips to Florida, times at Okoboji at the Born’s cabin, and many other vacations through the years.  Linda also brought joy to so many through her gift of baking, especially cookies.

      Through the years, Linda blessed many by sewing hundreds of crib sheets for family and friends.  The care and love that she put into each one made them a special gift.  The sheets she created and shared were exceptionally soft and of such good quality that they quickly became favorites.  Linda also impacted countless lives by her donation of over 16 gallons of blood.

      Linda was a longtime member of Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center.  She loved the time spent with her monthly Thursday lunch group and her weekly Wednesday morning coffee group. She considered each group member to be a very special friend. 

      Linda is survived by her husband, Jim Harskamp of Sioux Center, IA; three children: Cyndy (Jon) Flaherty, and their children: Tyler and Mackenzie, all of Kansas City, MO; Chad (Jill) Harskamp and their daughters: Chloe, Jori, and Emery, all of Sioux Center; Craig (Megan) Harskamp, and their children: Adalyn, Jameson, Grace, and Keating, all of Brandon, SD; 8 siblings: Kathy (Harry) Nelson of Omaha, NE; Karen (Marvin) Harms of Georgetown, TX; Richard (Corrine) Hughes of Missouri Valley, IA; Judy (Donald) Garber of Georgetown, TX; Neil (Mary) Hughes of Council Bluffs, IA; Francis (Phyllis) Hughes of Cambridge, MN; Nancy (Mark) Giono of Butte, MT; Jerry (Babby) Hughes of Mondamin, IA; one brother-in-law, Ed Thulin of Mansfield, TX; as well as her in-laws: Alida (Roger) Millikan of Sioux Falls, SD; Carl Millikan of Brush Prairie, WA, and Ed (Jan) Harskamp of Sibley, IA.

      She was preceded in death by her parents and parents-in-law; a son, Clint Harskamp, a sister, Virginia Thulin, and a sister-in-law, Darlene Millikan.