Florence Hooyer

Florence Hooyer, 89, of Sioux Center, IA died Friday, July 22, 2011 at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center. A visitation will be held Monday from 4-8PM with the family present from 6-8PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A prayer service for family and friends will be held Tuesday at 10AM at the First Christian 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 Tuesday at 11AM in the First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Mark Verbruggen officiating. Florence Pearl Hooyer was born on June 3, 1922 at Sioux Center, Iowa to Bart and Hattie (Lammers) Van Donge. She was united in marriage to Albert John Hooyer on January 16, 1947 in Sioux Center. Florence and Albert farmed west of Sioux Center where they raised their seven children. She was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center where she participated in Golden Hour. She was appreciated for being one of the first helpers to make pig in the blankets, of which the proceeds of their sale benefited the Sioux Center Christian School. Over the years, Florence was an avid gardener and the items she knitted and crocheted became cherished keepsakes. She herself loved visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Florence is survived by two daughters: Helen (Bill) Van Den Top of Rock Valley and Anita (Glen) Van Bruggen of Sioux Center; five sons: Bruce (Phyllis) Hooyer of Sioux Center, Terry (Marla) Hooyer of Maurice, Allen (Beverly) Hooyer of Sioux Center, Marvin Hooyer of Sioux Center, Joel (Irene) Hooyer of Visalia, CA; 20 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren; two brothers: Rich Van Donge and Herman (Nellie) Van Donge, a sister, Henrietta Dibbet all of Sioux Center; five sisters-in-law: Dena Hooyer of Quincy, WA, Henrietta Sealey of Meckling, SD, Esther Vander Lugt of Sheldon, Lois Hooyer, Evelyn (Gerald) Vreeman of Wenatchee, WA along with numerous nieces and nephews. Florence was preceded in death by her husband, Albert; sister-in-law, Ida Van Donge and brother-in-law, John Dibbet and Hooyer in-laws: Mike Hooyer, Harold Sealey, Emma and Elmer Saarloos, John and Wilmina Hooyer, Gertrude Hooyer, Henry Hooyer, Ray Vander Lugt, Tony Hooyer, Anna Mae Reuter.