Warren Van Roekel

Warren Van Roekel, 85, of Sioux Center, Iowa, passed away early Wednesday morning at the Sioux Center Community Hospital in Sioux Center, IA.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, November 26, 2005 at First Reformed Church in Sioux Center, Iowa with Reverend Arnold Punt officiating. There will be a family prayer service at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday at the church with burial to follow in Memory Gardens in Sioux Center with military rites conducted by the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post #6129 and Doornink-Brusting American Legion Post #199 of Sioux Center. Visitation with the family present will be Friday, November 25, 2005 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center, Iowa. Arrangements are under the direction of the Carlsen Funeral Homes of Le Mars and Akron. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.carlsenfuneralhome.com.

Honorary Pall Bearers will be his grandchildren: Tom Punt, Jill Eberle, Wendy Biddick, Jane Arnold, Neil Punt, and Dan Rexwinkel.

John Warren Van Roekel was born June 10, 1920 on the family farm near Sioux Center, Iowa, one six sons born to the union of John G. and Sarah (Grotenhuis) Van Roekel. He was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith. He attended country school near Sioux Center and later high school at Sioux Center High School where he graduated in 1938. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1942. He served his country as a member of the John Deere Battalion #303 during WWII in England and Belgium. He was honorably discharged in 1946. Upon returning, he was united in marriage to Lillian Broek on November 8, 1946 in Sioux Center, Iowa. Together, they are the parents of three children, Lorene, Sharon, and Butch. The couple farmed north of Sioux Center for many years. Following his retirement, he went to work for Interstate Electric for 18 years, driving supplies to construction sites and doing various jobs around the shop.

Warren was a longtime member of First Reformed Church in Sioux Center, Iowa and the Veteran of Foreign Wars Post #6129 in Sioux Center. He and his wife enjoyed wintering in Arizona for many years. He loved his John Deere tractors and his Ford pickups. He enjoyed visiting with friends. He was handyman where he could fix just about anything. He will also be remembered for his humor. But most of all he loved the times spent with his family and he always looked forward to family get togethers. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Survivors include his wife of over 59 years, Lillian of Sioux Center, IA; three children: Lorene Rexwinkel and her husband John of Le Mars, IA, Sharon Punt and her husband Paul of Chanhassen, MN, and Butch Van Roekel and his wife Jan of Sioux Center, IA; 6 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; 4 brothers: Clinton Van Roekel and his wife Flossie of George, IA, Merle Van Roekel and his wife JoAnn of Rock Rapids, IA, Rev. James Van Roekel and his wife Erma Jean of Des Moines, IA, and Arlin D. Van Roekel and his wife Alvina of Sioux Center, IA; a sister-in-law: Edna Van Roekel of Fulda, MN; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother: Gershom Van Roekel.