Gerrit H. Van Voorst

Gerrit H. Van Voorst, 81 of Sioux Center died Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at his Sioux Center home.

A funeral service will be held Saturday at 10:00AM at The Netherlands Reformed Church with Reverend H. Hoffman Jr. officiating. Interment will followin Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

Visitation will be held Friday from 2-8:30PM, with the family present from 6:30-8:30PM at theMemorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

In lieu of flowers the Van Voorst Family prefers memorials be directed to CHEARS Home Health and Hospice.



Gerrit Van Voorst was the son of Henry and Alice (Vande Hoef) Van Voorst, born on April 27, 1927 at the home of his parents near Sioux Center, IA. He attended country school through the 8th grade. He married Johanna Vanden Brink on Sept. 16, 1948. Gerrit operated, along with his brother John, the family farm and dairy for 42 years. After retiring he took up woodworking, wintered in Arizona, and helped on the farm. He was a lifetime member of the Netherlands Reformed Church. Gerrit died at home on February 24, 2009 after a 3 year battle from leukemia. Gerrit found joy in his work, love for his family and gratitude for each day.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 60 years, Johanna;two sons: Harlan and Karen (Dobson) Van Voorst, James and Janene (Wisse) Van Voorst, both of Sioux Center;six daughters: Mavis Den Boer of Rock Valley, Carol and Dave Johnson of Strasburg, VA, Sue and Jeff Meendering of Inwood, Donna and Larry De Weerd, Sharon and Lyle Den Herder, both of Sioux Center, Janice and Loren Roetman of Mesa, AZ; 30 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren; abrother, Jake (Freda) Van Voorst of Inwood; four sisters: Gertrude Van Beek of Sioux Center, Hattie (John) Rus of Corsica, SD, Marie (John) Bakker of Rock Valley, and Priscilla (Jack) Dibbet of Sioux Center; brother-in-law, Bill Van Bochove of Rock Valley; two sisters-in-law: Dorothy Van Voorst and Tillie Van Voorst both of Sioux Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents;two brothers: John and Rich Van Voorst; sister, Minnie Van Bochove and brother-in-law, Henry Van Beek.