Bernice Van Otterloo

Bernice Van Otterloo, 95, of Sioux Center, IA died Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at Sanford Sheldon Senior Care in Sheldon. A visitation will be Sunday at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center from 2-8PM, with the family present from 2-4PM. A funeral service will be held Monday at 10:30AM at Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Interment will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. The Van Otterloo family prefers memorials to Mission India Project or Unity Christian High School. Bernice Van Otterloo was born on March 1, 1915 to Sjoerd and Anna (De Boer) Bolkema in Hospers, Iowa. She was the oldest of the ten Bolkema children. She received her eighth grade certificate from the Christian School in Sheldon, Iowa. On June 5, 1941, Bernice was joined in marriage to Leonard Van Otterloo in Rock Valley. The couple resided in Rock Valley for a few years before moving to a farm north of Hull. They also farmed north of Boyden for a time before they moved to the farm by Hospers. Bernice faithfully helped Leonard with the farm as well as spending many hours canning, sewing and mending. The couple farmed until 1970, at which time they moved to Sioux Center. Bernice's faith was an essential part of her life. She stayed active at church and enjoyed the fellowship she found in various circles and ladies societies, including the Pricilla Circle in Hospers and the Sunshine Circle at Bethel Church. Bernice loved to visit with friends and relatives. She enjoyed poetry and over the years she collected many meaningful poems and verses in her notebooks. Bernice is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Stanley and Arlene Van Otterloo of Hospers; three grandchildren: Sheila and her husband Kurt Zevenbergen of Hospers, Kevin Van Otterloo and his wife Tina of Jenison, MI, and Galen Van Otterloo and his wife April of Sioux Falls, SD; seven great-grandchildren: Travis, Brooke and Katelyn Zevenbergen, all of Hospers, Ethan, Luke, and Ella Van Otterloo all of Jenison, MI, Cohen Van Otterloo of Sioux Falls; sisters, Clara Sybesma and her husband Clarence of Platte, SD, Matilda Honderd and her husband Roger of Grand Rapids, MI, Phyllis Van Regenmorter and her husband Rich of Sioux Center; sisters-in-law, Esther May Bolkema of Grand Rapids, MI, Sylvia Bolkema of Wilmer, MN, Joyce Van Otterloo of Hull; brother-in-law, Martin Breems of Sheldon and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Leonard; her parents; sisters, Angeline Bomgaars and her husband Jake, Lucretia Bolkema, Lorrene Breems; brothers, John Bolkema and his wife Margaret, Harold Bolkema and George Bolkema.