John Sjaarda

John Sjaarda, 90, of Sioux Center, IA died Tuesday, December 25, 2012, at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center. A visitation will be held Thursday 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 Friday 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 Friday at 11AM at First Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating. In lieu of flowers or gifts items, the Sjaarda family prefers memorial donations to Crown Pointe/Royale Meadows Care Center, c/o the Sioux Center Community Hospital Foundation or Sioux Center Home Health & Hospice. G. John Sjaarda was born on March 19, 1922 to Nicholas and Dirkie (Mulder) Sjaarda in Carnes, Iowa. When John was a young man, his father was severely injured and John went to work for an uncle to help support the family. He entered the Army during World War II serving in the European Theater of Operation. Upon discharge, he went to work as a farmhand, for Martin Dykshorn, eventually marrying the boss's daughter, Joyce. To this union four children were born. Joyce passed away on January 10, 1990. John spent his years as a farmer, especially enjoying the relationships formed while doing custom work. Through the years John served as deacon and elder at First Reformed Church. He also served his community in various capacities. Some of these included as the secretary of the Coop Creamery board, the caretaker of the Sioux County fairgrounds and 18 years on the Sioux Center Community School board. On January 2, 1993, John married Gert Smit. They enjoyed wintering in Texas for 12 years. During these years John 'supervised' out at the farm and worked as a carpenter's helper. His free time was spent at Casey's Bakery with good friends and good coffee and at the All Seasons Center shooting pool. John is survived by his wife, Gert; son, Jim (Marianne) of Ireton; daughter, Joan (Mark) Wiemann of Algona, IA; daughter-in-law, Annette of Ireton; five stepchildren: Tyanne (Dennis) Downing of Centennial, CO, Donna (Verlyn) Zwart of Hawarden, Carla Anderson of Jefferson, SD, Dale Smit of Orange City, Bonnie Uhrich of Sioux Center; 11 grandchildren; 14 step grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; 30 step great-grandchildren; a brother, Marvin (Bertha) Sjaarda of Paullina, IA; three sisters-in-law: Mina Sjaarda of Valley Springs, SD; Peggy Sjaarda of Maryville, TN and Lois Van Roekel of Sioux Center as well as numerous nephews and nieces. Preceding John in death are his first wife, Joyce; two sons, John Martin and Judson; his parents; two brothers: Clarence and Donald Sjaarda; sister, Winifred (Gerald) Reinders and brother-in-law, Gordon Van Roekel.