Dorothy Bomgaars

Dorothy Bomgaars, 90, of Orange City, Iowa, formerly of Sioux Center, Iowa, died Monday, March 5, 2012 at the Orange City Area Health System of Orange City. A visitation will be held on Wednesday at the Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center from 4-9PM, with the family present from 7-9PM. A prayer service for family and friends will be held Thursday at 10AM at the Central Reformed Church. Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. A celebration of life service will be held on Thursday at 11AM at the Central Reformed Church with Rev. Van Rathbun officiating. The Bomgaars family prefers memorials be directed to the Landsmeer Ridge Retirement Learning and Technology Center of Orange City. The daughter of John A. and Dora (Vander Schaaf) Poppen, Dorothy was born on the family farm NE of Sioux Center. The oldest of four children, her early years were spent enjoying the freedoms and responsibilities of farm life. Education and music held a high priority in their home, with much family time spent making beautiful music together. The daughters assumed most of the household duties when their mother became ill with cancer. Dorothy attended Northwestern College for one year and then transferred and graduated from Central College in 1943 with a degree in education. Her first teaching position was in a country school, followed by schools in Alton and Sioux Center. On a summer Sunday evening after a church service in Hull, Clarence Bomgaars asked Dorothy for their first date. Four years later on June 28, 1946, they were married in the Poppen family home. The newly married couple took over the operation of the family farm where they raised livestock and field crops. As a family, they were blessed with five children and received great joy in being active and supportive parents. While raising their children, Dorothy returned to college, with determination and tenacity, to meet increased teaching requirements. She obtained a B.A. Degree from Westmar College in 1967. She then returned to teach in Maurice. Soon after, their eldest son, Robert, was killed tragically in a tractor accident July 11, 1967. Dorothy enjoyed working in her vegetable and flower gardens and tending to her raspberry bushes and apple trees. She took great pleasure in harvesting the fruits of her labor and spent many hours baking, canning and freezing produce. One of her unending joys was to send a friend or family member home with a frozen pie. After living on the farm until her mid 80's, Dorothy spent the last years at Landsmeer Ridge making new friends and enjoying life. Dorothy leaves behind a legacy which will continue to live through her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her legacy is one of unconditional love, humility, the pursuit of academic and intellectual challenge, and the acceptance of the love and grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ. She is survived by her children and their spouses: Roger and Minerva Bomgaars of Sioux Center; Marilyn Mayberry of Orange City; David & Anita Bomgaars of Orange City; Gene and Amy Bomgaars of Sheldon. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren: Angela Bomgaars, Emily Swinger (Roy), Ryan Bomgaars; Madison MayberryHofmeyer (Joe); Megan Roos (Ben), Chris Bomgaars, Curtis Bomgaars (Claudia Soto, fiancee); Jill, Anne, Katherine and Nicholas Bomgaars. Great-grandchildren are Beckett Roos and Hudson Swinger. In addition, Dorothy is survived by a sister Charlotte Peterman,a brother Alvin Poppen and sister-in-law Gerdena Bomgaars.