Irene Van Roekel

Irene Van Roekel, 92, of Sioux Center, IA, died Monday, January 1 9, 2015, at Sioux Center Health. A visitation with the family present will be held on Saturday from 9:30-10:30AM at First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 10:30AM at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Travis Else officiating. Interment will follow the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. The Van Roekel family requests no flowers and prefers memorials to Haitian Missions c/o First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Irene Leona (Punt) Van Roekel was born March 2, 1922 to Arie and Winnie Punt near Sioux Center, Iowa. She attended country school and Sioux Center High school. On May 1, 1941, Irene was joined in marriage to Gerrit G.A. Van Roekel in Sioux Center. The couple lived in California and Michigan before settling in Sioux Center in 1953. Irene and Gerrit were blessed with two children, Judy and Dean. The couple farmed and owned the A & W Drive-in for a period of time in Sioux Center and Inwood, Iowa. Gerrit preceded Irene in death on May 6, 1974. Irene was a lifelong member of First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. She was involved in various women's Bible studies over the years. Irene was active throughout her retirement years. She enjoyed traveling both foreign and domestic. Irene loved people and enjoyed spending time playing cards, baking and sharing a meal with others. Her greatest joy was her family and she delighted in the times that they would visit. She is survived by her two children and their spouses, Judy and John Vande Vegte of Rock Valley, Dean and Paula Van Roekel of Sioux City; four grandchildren and their spouses: Eric and Tricia Van Roekel of North Liberty, IA; Kirk and Amy Van Roekel of Littleton, CO; Henry and Kathy Vande Vegte of Rock Valley; Sharron and Aaron Nelson of Sioux City, 15 great grandchildren: Amy (Adam) Van Schepen, Alissa (Nick) Snuttjer, Austin (Ashley) Vande Vegte, Andrew Vande Vegte, Ashlyn Vande Vegte, Courtney Nelson, Rachel Nelson, Riley Doenhofer, Payton Doenhofer, Raymond Nelson, Jayden Nelson, Hannah Van Roekel, Joshua Van Roekel, Emma Van Roekel and Jackson Van Roekel; 6 great great grandchildren; a sister, Johanna Watkins of Grinnell, IA; brother-in-law, Rev. Alvin Poppen of Sarasota, FL and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, parents; and a sister, Geraldine Poppen.