Lois Van Roekel

Lois Van Roekel, 88, of Sioux Center, IA, died Sunday, February 21, 2016, at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center.

A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 5-7PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

A prayer service for family and friends will be held on Thursday at 10:00AM at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday at 11:00AM at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Jamie Dykstra officiating.

The Van Roekel family prefers memorials to Hope Food Pantry of Sioux Center.

Lois Betty Van Roekel was born on August 6, 1927 to Martin and Jennie (Vande Berg) Dykshorn at home on the farm near Ireton, Iowa. She was raised and educated in country school, graduating from Sioux Center High School.

She married Gordon Albert Van Roekel on December 6, 1946 at First Reformed Church of Sioux Center, Iowa.

She was baptized and made profession of faith at First Reformed Church of Sioux Center, where she was a Sunday School teacher, as a young woman. She was a life time member of the Lydia Circle. She sang with the church choir and also made many knitted prayer shawls which were donated to the elderly.

Early on Lois worked for Roelof-Vande Berg grocery and dry goods store. After marrying Gordon she became a full time devoted farm wife and mother. As the children grew she became a Clever Clover 4-H leader. And later a skilled maker of roses made of frosting to adorn cakes made by her sister, Joyce Sjaarda. Her baking skills were enjoyed by family and friends. She passed her passion for baking through the generations, especially her cinnamon rolls.

In 1973 they moved to Sioux Center and she worked for a brief time for the local locker wrapping meat that was being processed. By 1988 they began sharing the winter months in Mission Bell, TX and enjoyed that time together for 20 years.

She also busied herself helping her husband Gordon by putting the finish on his many woodworking projects. She spent hours knitting scarves and baby blankets, all perfectly done, for her children and grandchildren. She enjoyed canning her garden bounty and making apple pies for the freezer. She loved her flowers, especially her roses and geraniums, and made sure there was not a weed to be found.

Left to cherish her memory are four children and their spouses:

Mary Fedders and her husband, Vern of Le Mars, IA and their children: Amy (Fedders) Ruhland and her husband, Jeff of Guthrie Center, IA; Angela Fedders and partner, Eric Stofi of Wichita, KS.

Robert (Bob) and his wife, Karel Van Roekel of Guthrie Center, IA and their children: Jennifer (Van Roekel) Sohn and her husband, Ryan of Le Mars; 1st SGT Christopher Van Roekel and his wife, Crystal of Guthrie Center, IA.

Ruth Kooiker and her husband, David of Lake Wilson, MN and their children: Kristi (Kooiker) Eshuis of Edgerton, MN; Julie (Kooiker) Lind and husband, Darren of Woodstock, MN; Andrew Kooiker and his wife, Melissa of Edgerton, MN; Greg Kooiker and wife, Trisha of Edgerton, MN and Jesse Kooiker of Brandon, SD.

William (Bill) Van Roekel from Nixa, MO and his children: Molly Van Roekel of Fayetteville, AR and Emme Van Roekel of Nixa, MO.

Along with 19 great grandchildren who also loved her very much. Lois is also survived by brother-in-law, Lloyd Van Roekel, of Sioux Center, IA.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gordon; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Albert and Cena Van Roekel; sister and brother-in-law, Joyce and John Sjaarda; sister-in-law, Elma Van Roekel.