Alice Dooyema

Alice Dooyema, 81, of Sioux Center, IA died Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center.


A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11 AM at Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. John Lee and Rev. Duane Tinklenberg officiating. Interment will be held prior to the memorial service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.


A prayer service for family and friends will be held Saturday at 10AM at Bethel Christian Reformed Church.

Visitation will be held Friday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 5-7PM at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.


The Dooyema family prefers memorials to Bethel Christian Reformed Church Building Fund.



Alice Gertrude Dooyema was born October 20, 1928 to Anthony and Gerdena (Van De Berg) Van Ravenswaay. She was born on the family farm southwest Sioux Center and was the oldest of the Van Ravenswaays nine children. She attended Center #6 country school for seven years and then attended Center #1 for her eighth grade year. When she was old enough Alice did housekeeping for other families and worked as a nurses aid. Later she worked for Caseys Bakery and Harkers Meats.

On August 26, 1950, Alice was joined in marriage to Junior Dooyema in Edgerton, MN. Junior entered the service in October, 1950 and the couple moved for a short time to Camp Polk, LA. After the completion of Juniors military service in Germany the couple returned to Sioux Center in 1952. For eight years they farmed southeast of Sioux Center before purchasing the Van Ravenswaay farm in 1960. The couple lived on this farm for 24 years and began a successful egg production business.

Alice was a member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center. For many years she volunteered to help with the Friendship Bible study.

In her free time, Alice loved to spend time in her kitchen and used her gift of hospitality to share food with neighbors and friends. She enjoyed gardening and hosting large canning parties on the farm, as well as tending her flowers and plants. Alice was known for her quick wit and always enjoyed playing games with her grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Junior Dooyema of Sioux Center; three sons and daughters-in-law: Kim and Kathy Dooyema of Menomonee Falls, WI, Eric and Val Dooyema and Bruce and Deb Dooyema both of Sioux Center; eight grandchildren: Ryan Dooyema and his wife Shelly of Brookfield, WI, Shane Dooyema and his wife Jody, of Milwaukee, WI, Dustin Dooyema of Las Cruces, NM, Tyler Dooyema, Shelby Dooyema both of Sioux Center, Lindsey Bobier and her husband Aaron of McPherson, KS, Tessa Dooyema and Whitney Dooyema both of Sioux Center; three great-grandchildren: Addison, Emily and Hailey Dooyema. She is also survived by four sisters and brother-in-laws: Gertrude and William Horstman of Sioux Center, Carol and Gerrit Koedam of Mesa, AZ, Rena and John Van Voorst of Sioux Center, Mary and Ed Zuschlag of Westminster, CO; sisters-in-law, Shirley Van Ravenswaay of Montevideo, MN, Alma Warren and her husband Charles of Sioux Center and Sandra Van Ravenswaay of Sioux Center as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Alice is preceded in death by her parents and four brothers: Rich, Ralph, Harold and Anthony Jr.