Kathryn Mouw

KATHRYN MOUW, 90, of Sioux Center, IA died Thursday, February 28, 2008 at Valley Manor Nursing Home in Rock Valley.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2pm at the Carmel Reformed Church of rural Sioux Center with Rev. Mark Heijerman officiating. Interment will be held prior to the memorial service in the Carmel Cemetery.

A prayer service will be held Saturday afternoon at 1:15pm at the Carmel Reformed Church.

Visitation will be held on Friday from 4pm to 8pm, with the family present from 6 to 8pm at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

The Mouw Family prefers memorials to the Carmel Reformed Church New Horizon Building Fund.


Kathryn Martha (Schouten) Mouw was born May 24, 1917 to Peter and Grace (Vennis) Schouten in Utrecht, The Netherlands. She immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of three. Kathryn was raised in the Rock Valley, Iowa area, attending school through the eighth grade.

Kathryn was joined in marriage to Gerald Mouw on January 9, 1941 in Middleburg, Iowa. The couple farmed south of Carmel, Iowa for 38 years. After their retirement Kathryn and Gerald moved to Sioux Center, Iowa where they resided until Geralds passing on March 11, 2007. Kathryn became a resident of Valley Manor in Rock Valley in August of 2007.

Kathryn was a longtime member of Carmel Reformed Church where she was active in ladies aid and Vacation Bible School. She enjoyed spending time in her garden, volunteering her time at Hope Haven and helping with arts and crafts at the hospital nursing wing in Sioux Center. She was fond of fishing and playing cards with friends. She took great pleasure in spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Those left to cherish her memory are her two children: Larry Mouw of Sioux Falls, SD, and Lois and her husband, Jim Joffer of Sioux Center; three grandchildren: Jeremy and Dawn Joffer of Sioux Center, Jason and Heidi Joffer of Sioux Center, Josh Joffer of Sioux Center; six great-grandchildren: Macy, Hannah, Ethan and Raigan Joffer and Blake and Gabe Joffer; a sister-in-law, JoAnn Schouten of Sioux Center and numerous nieces and nephews.

Kathryn was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years; her parents; one sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and Adrian De Bie; three brothers and sisters-in-law: Neal and Clara Schouten, Peter C. and Cecelia Schouten, Henry and Jeanette Schouten and brother, Melvin Schouten.