Douglas Ribbens

Dr. Douglas Carl Ribbens of Sioux Center, Iowa died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, August 10, 2016 at the age of 89.

Visitation with family present will be from 5:00 - 7:00 pm on Friday, August 12, at the Sioux Center First Christian Reformed Church.  Graveside services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, August 13, at Memorial Gardens Cemetery.  A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 13, at the First Christian Reformed Church, 321 2nd St. SE. Services will be entrusted to Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center, Iowa.

Son of Joe and Cornelia (Vande Kreeke) Ribbens, Doug was born in Sheboygan, WI on October 1, 1926.  Following a 2-year stint as an Army Corporal, stationed in Germany, he attended Calvin College to attain his education degree.  Later, he received his Doctorate of Education from the Colorado State University, Greeley, CO. 

He was Principal and Teacher at Oostburg Christian School for 5 years.  In 1955, Doug became Dordt College’s first Education Professor.  Over the course of his 37 years of faithful service to Dordt he held positions as Professor, Library Director, Registrar and Vice President for Academic Affairs.  His passion was to provide unwaveringly Christ-centered education to Dordt’s students.  In recognition of Doug & Henrietta’s dedication to Dordt’s mission of preparing students as servants in God’s Kingdom, the classroom building was named the Douglas and Henrietta (Miedema) Ribbens Academic Complex.

Doug was united in marriage to Ruth Bulthuis on June 23, 1950.  They were blessed with 7 children.  Ruth died on December 21, 1987.  Doug was united in marriage to Henrietta Miedema on April 30, 1988.

Surviving Doug are Henrietta, his wife of 28 years; children Wayne & Barbi Ribbens (Phoenix, AZ), Bruce & Carol Ribbens (Pella, IA), Karl & Pat Ribbens (Pella, IA), Tim & Linda Ribbens (Bloomington, MN), Cindy & Arlan Nederhoff (Sioux Center, IA), Rob & Holly Ribbens (Muskegan, MI); 19 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; brother Dennis (Harriet) Ribbens (Watersmeet, MI); In-laws Glenn Jasperse, Frieda Bierma, Dorothy (LeRoy) Kleene, Theresa Cleveringa, Dorothy (Donald) Sikkema, Lee Euwema, Ida Jean Bilthouse, Ann Havel.

Pre-deceasing Doug were Ruth, his wife of 37 years; infant daughter, Sharon Ruth; parents Joe & Cornelia Ribbens; siblings Judy (Howard) Kortman, Patty (Glenn) Jasperse; granddaughter-in-law, Sarah (Mulder) Ribbens.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to Dordt College or Sioux Center Christian School.