Grace Van Roekel

Grace Van Roekel, 96, of Sioux Center, IA died Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at the Westwood Care Center in Sioux City, IA. Visitation will be held Thursday from 4-8PM, with family present from 5-7PM at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A prayer service for family and friends will be held Friday at 10AM at 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 with Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating. The Van Roekel family prefers memorials to the Ireton Community Foundation or the Sioux Center Public Library. Grace (Grietje) Engeltjes Van Roekel was born November 25, 1913, in Elburg, the Netherlands. Third of eleven children and the second daughter born to Gerrit John and Cornelia (Magré) Engeltjes, she was baptized in St. Nicolaaskerk in Elburg. In 1920, the family emigrated to the United States, arriving at Ellis Island on Grace's seventh birthday. In 1995 and 2000, Grace and her daughters Milly and Linda revisited Ellis Island. Her name and those of her parents are engraved on the Ellis Island American Immigrant Wall of Honor. Three days after arriving by train at their destination in Hull, Iowa, Grace's two-year old brother, Bernie, died of diphtheria and two children of their sponsors, the Zoets, died of scarlet fever. The new immigrant family was quarantined with the Zoet family for thirteen weeks. The family lived on various farms near Sioux Center, Iowa, and Grace and her brothers and sisters attended country schools in the area. After her schooling she was a housekeeper for many families in the area. On February 21, 1939, Grace and Tony Van Roekel were married at the home of her parents near Ireton, Iowa. They lived on a farm west of Sioux Center, near Tony's parents, for fourteen years, then in 1953, they bought a farm south of Ireton where they lived until 1978, when they moved to the new home which Tony built himself in Sioux Center. Tony and Grace celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1989 and later that year, on August 10, 1989, Tony passed away. Following Tony's passing, Grace remained in their home in Sioux Center. In 2004, she became a resident of Crown Pointe in Sioux Center, and early in 2010, due to declining health, she moved to Bickford Cottages in Sioux City. She passed away peacefully at Westwood Nursing Home in Sioux City on August 10, at the age of 96 years, 8 months and 15 days. Tony and Grace were the parents of three children: Mildred Elaine (Milly) and Henry Vande Kieft of Pella, IA Ivan Dale and Sylvia Van Roekel of Sioux City and Linda Ruth Van Roekel of Urbandale, IA. Grace and Tony are lovingly remembered by their children, in-laws and three grandsons: Scott Van Roekel, Rev. Stephen (Charissa) Van Roekel and Joe (Kerry) Vande Kieft, and four great-grandchildren, Sarah, Abigail, Bethany, and Samuel Van Roekel. Grace is also survived by two sisters: Marie (Gerrit) Fedders of Sioux Center and Nellie (Willard) Meyer of Sheldon; two brothers: Bernie (Betty) Engeltjes of Leota, MN and Andy (Betty) Engeltjes of Orange City; two sisters-in-law: Harriet Meendering and Ellen Van Roekel and many nieces and nephews. Grace was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers: Albertus (Bernie), Lewis and Henry Engeltjes and three sisters: Bertha (Dick) Franken, Hattie (Fred) Vollink and Fannie (Fred) Van Dieren. She was a member of the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center and of Ireton. She taught Sunday school and was active in the women's groups in the Ireton church and community. Grace Van Roekel was a gentle, warm and loving person. She enjoyed making greeting cards, dressing dolls, crocheting afghans, which she generously gave to family and friends, and she was always ready to provide a helping hand to anyone in need. She was blessed with a long, full and satisfying life, sustained and encouraged by her faith, her family and her many friends. Online Condolences Ann Dorene (Wynja) Kleinwolterink Sioux Center Relationship: friend Oh, so many good times at the farm! Grace will always be remembered by me as a happy, fun loving lady. She always made me feel so welcome. Treasure the memories!! Sent: 8/11/2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kristi Johnson Hinton Relationship: great-niece I have many fond memories of Auntie Grace. Obviously, one of my favorites, was when Jason and I would go to visit Grandma Fannie and she would take us to Auntie Grace and Uncle Tony's farms to see the chickens. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. She will be greatly missed by all. Love, Kristi, Joel, Taylor & Ross Johnson Sent: 8/13/2010 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- jan riemersma sioux center Relationship: niece my sincere sympathy to you and all of your families, in the loss of mom , grandmother. i have so many great memories. we will miss her and her great smile. Sent: 8/14/2010