Severt "Seip" Van Berkel

Severt Seip Van Berkel went to be with our Heavenly Father on May 5, 2008, surrounded by his loving family at the Sioux Center Community Hospital.

A Memorial service will be held Thursday May 8 at 2:00PM at First Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating. Interment will be held prior to the memorial service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

A Prayer service with be held Thursday at 1:00PM at First Reformed Church of Sioux Center.

Visitation will be held Wednesday from 4-8PM at First Reformed Church with the family present from 6-8PM.

The Van Berkel family prefers memorials be directed to New Life Treatment Center, a place of healing for some dear people to Severt.





Severt Van Berkel was the son of Tony and Nellie (Haverhals) Van Berkel was born November 19, 1926. He was raised on the family farm near Hawarden. He attended country school through 8th grade, he then went to Hawarden High School for two years and then went two years to Western Christian High School graduating in 1943.

Severt farmed with his parents until entering the Military Service. He served in the army from 1945-1946 and was a White House M.P. Upon discharge he returned to farm near Sioux Center.

On September 21, 1948, he married Margene Bomgaars at the Middleburg Reformed Church. They made their home West of Sioux Center where he farmed. In December 1980 they moved into Sioux Center but continued to farm with his family.

Mr. Van Berkel was a member of First Reformed Church and a former member of Lebanon Christian Reformed where he served as a deacon. He was also a President of Lebanon Christian School. He organized and started the Sioux County Cattle Feeders in the mid 1960s. Seip also served on the Sioux Center Community School board for 6 years.

Family and faith were most important to Severt. He believed his great grandchildren were extra special blessings from God. Through every season Severt found farming to be a reminder of Gods great faithfulness. He enjoyed golfing, going to his grandchildrens activities and many hours of driving through the countryside looking at the crops and cattle. He also loved checking the rain gauges at all the farms for his sons and all his coffee friends.

Survivors include his loving and devoted wife of more than 59 years; 5 children, Gene and Bev Van Berkel, Bev and Wayne Schut, Jan and Doug Van Meeteren, Arda and Loren Van Regenmorter, and Tony and Judi Van Berkel, all of Sioux Center; 13 grandchildren and 1 step-grandchild, Grant Garrod, Charity Van Berkel, Brad and Stacia Van Berkel; Jim and Missy Schut, Lyle and Jill Schut, Greg and Erica Schut; Erica and Jim Vonk, Lee Van Meeteren and friend Alissa Warner, Katie Van Meeteren and fianc Nathan Harris, Kelly and Cindy Van Regenmorter, Julie and Tim Bajema, Travis Van Regenmorter; Bianca and Lucas Van Berkel; 12 great-grandchildren; brother, Mitch and Irene Van Berkel of Edgerton, Minnesota; and sisters Mary Ann and Ellsworth Schut of Sioux Center, and Adelene and Herm Brenneman of Sioux Center and many nephews and nieces.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Pearl Altena and her husband Senard.