Joe Van Zweden

Joe Van Zweden, 92, of Sioux Center, IA, died Tuesday, April 28, 2015, at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center. A visitation will be held on Thursday from 4-8PM with the family present from 6-8PM at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A funeral service will be held on Friday at 1:00PM at the Netherlands Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Everett Adams officiating. Interment will follow the funeral service in Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. In lieu of flowers or gift items the Van Zweden family prefers memorials to the Netherlands Reformed Christian School Trust Fund. Johannes Van Zweden was born on February 4, 1923 to Rev. John and Mary (Rottier) Van Zweden in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was raised in Passaic, New Jersey, and graduated from high school in 1942. He attended Columbia University in the Naval Reserve Officers Training Program graduating in 1945 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He served his country as an Ensign aboard an escort carrier in the Pacific until 1946. Joseph continued in the Naval Reserve until 1953 when he received an honorable discharge as a Lieutenant Junior Grade. Joseph was united in marriage to Marijtje Grisnich on December 18, 1956 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. They made their home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and raised their seven children. Joseph worked, for many years, at the architectural firm of Fritzel, Kroeger, Griffin and Berg. Joseph and Marrie retired to Sioux Center, Iowa in 1990. Joseph was a lifelong member of the Netherlands Reformed Church and served on the consistory for several years. He was an avid reader, loved being out in nature and enjoyed woodworking. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Marrie Van Zweden of Sioux Center; their seven children and spouses: Joan (Thomas) Blok of Schoolcraft, MI, John (Elise) Van Zweden of Schoolcraft, MI, Mary (Brad) Vanden Berg of Armour, SD, Janet (Nathan) Bunney of Modesto, CA, Ralph (Julie) Van Zweden of Sioux Center, Mark (Lisa) Van Zweden of Aomori-ken, Japan, Roy (Karen) Van Zweden of Lakewood, CO; 29 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; brother, Adrian Van Zweden of North Haledon, NJ; sister, Jackie (William) Rozeboom of Inwood, IA; sister-in-law, Mabel Van Zweden of Grand Rapids, MI. He is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers: Case Van Zweden and Jake Van Zweden; a sister and brother-in-law, Jane (John) Friesema and a sister-in-law, Audrey Van Zweden.