Gerrit Roskam

       Gerrit Roskam, 93, of Sioux Center, IA died Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center, IA.

     Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, March 5th at Netherlands Reformed Congregational Church in Sioux Center, IA with Rev. Herman Hofman officiating.

   Burial with full military honors will follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

   Visitation will be Saturday, March 3rd from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., with family present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

     Memorial may be directed to Netherlands Reformed Christian School, VFW Post 6129 and/or the Sioux Center Health Hospice and Home Care.

   Gerrit was born on November 8, 1924 to Anthony and Sophie (Rozeboom) Roskam. He was one of 11 children. They lived on a farm near Fairview, SD.

     Gerrit helped with all the farming chores including the use of horses for their field work. He spent many hours picking corn by hand. Dad remembered how hard farming was in those days. He attended country school through the 8th grade.

     On April 16, 1945, Gerrit entered the United States Army where he served as a prison guard in Okinawa. He was honorably discharged on January 6, 1947.

     When he returned, he married his sweetheart, Emma Schelling, on December 2, 1947.   Their first home was on a farm near Doon and was followed by moves to Struble, Carmel, and Sioux Center. They were a farming family that milked cows, and raised steers, pigs and chickens. They also had corn, beans and alfalfa fields. After having a farm sale, they went into the trucking business and moved to Sioux Center. They retired in the early 90’s.

     In 2012, they moved into Crown Pointe and Gerrit currently resided in Royale Meadows. His wife, Emma, passed away on June 17, 2017.

          Left to remember him are his daughter, Arlene Van Schepen of Hull, IA; sons, Ronald (Julie) Roskam of North Liberty, IA, David (Dot) Roskam of Sioux Center, IA, Jeffrey (Patty) Roskam of Wichita, KS; daughter, Gloria (Gary) Kruid of Sioux Center, IA; son, Alvin (Kim) Roskam of Wasilla, AK; foster daughters, Darlene(Will) Aberson of Orange City, IA and Donna (Hector) Van Roekel-Calderon of Goodyear, AZ; 20 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; two sisters Sophie (John) Zomer of Sioux Center, IA and Hilda (Jake) Van Voorst of Lester, IA; two sisters-in-law Bea Roskam of Ankeny, IA and Harriet Roskam of Canton, SD; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family members.

     He was preceded in death by his wife, Emma; son-in-law Randy Van Schepen; In addition to his parents, Anthony and Sophie Roskam, he was preceded in death by his parents-in-law; siblings Dick(Tillie) Roskam, Henrietta (Tunis) Van Hill, Gertrude (John) Kuiper, Gertie Dumond, Liz (John) Vander Weide, Tony Roskam, Len Roskam, and Cornie Roskam.