Lawrence Mouw

LAWRENCE MOUW, 87, of Sioux Center, IA died Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center.

A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2:30pm at the First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center, with Rev. Carl Klompien officiating. Interment will be held prior to the memorial service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

A prayer service will be held on Saturday at 1:30pm at the First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center.

Visitation will be held at the First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center on Friday after 4pm, with the family present from 6pm to 8pm.

The Mouw Family prefers memorials to Royale Meadows Care Center, c/o Sioux Center Community Hospital foundation.

Lawrence Mouw was born to Ben and Hattie (Ramaker) Mouw on March 20, 1920 at the home farm place two miles west of Sioux Center, Iowa. He was raised with eight siblings and attended country school. As a small child he was called sonny boy. He was a graduate of Sioux Center Community High School.

He entered the service in 1942 and served in the Philippine Islands for 1 years during WWII. He was also stationed in Virginia and South Carolina. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

Despite an unexpected blizzard, Lawrence was united in marriage to Dorothy Lammers in the First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center on May 4, 1944. They were blessed with five children: Hazel, Pauline, Forrest Wendell (Woody), Chantelle and Suzanne.

Lawrence worked hard farming the home place. He taught his children to love Jesus and passed on his love of animals (especially horses) and music to his children and grand-children. Lawrence loved to sing and play the violin. He always had a smile for everyone and loved to visit.

Lawrence was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center and served on the consistory for many years. He also was a trustee for Center Township and enjoyed his job of assisting voters on election days.

He entered Royale Meadows Care Center August 2006. January 2, 2008 he passed away peacefully with his family at his side. He was 87 years old.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy of Sioux Center; five children and their spouses, Hazel and Mike Haverhals of Hawarden, Pauline and Jim Van Engen of Sibley, Forrest Woody and Sandy Mouw of Modesto, CA, Chantelle and Myron Bolkema of Oostburg, WI, Suzanne and Bob Den Herder of Sioux Center; 18 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by three brothers and sisters-in-law: Harold and Marge Mouw of Albert Lea, MN, Peter G. and Frieda Mouw of Sioux Center, Orvin Wayne and Ernestine Mouw of Burleson, Tx; sister and brother-in-law, Faye and Vern Huisman of Orange City; sister-in-law, Wilma Mouw of Orange City; brother-in-law, Ed Rozeboom of Sioux Center and numerous nieces and nephews.

Proceeding him in death were his parents; brother and sister-in-law, Steven and Virginia Mouw; brother, Calvin Mouw; sister, Bernice Rozeboom; sister and brother-in-law, Madeline and Gerrit Gesink.