Cornie Broek

CORNIE BROEK, 79, of Sioux Center, Iowa died Saturday, 5/14, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, 5/18, at 10am at the Faith Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Bernie Haan officiating. Interment will follow in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, 5/17, from 2pm to 8pm, with the family present from 6pm to 8pm at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

The Broek Family prefers memorials to missions or CRWRC .


Cornelius Cornie Broek was born January 23, 1926 to John and Elsie (Wassink) Broek in Sioux Center. Cornie was raised in the Sioux Center area, attending country school and the Sioux Center Christian School.

On February 11, 1948, he was united in marriage to Berdie Hulstein in Hull, Iowa. The couple was blessed with four daughters. They farmed for many years in the area before moving to an acreage west of Sioux Center where Cornie sold feed & seed corn and raised laying hens. In 1973, Cornie and Berdie moved their family into Sioux Center. Two years later they purchased Sams Variety store located downtown Sioux Center and operated it until retirement in 1991. Always one to keep busy, Cornie worked part-time at the Dollar General Store and Wal-Mart after retiring.

Cornie was an active member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Later hearing Gods challenge, Cornie chose to become a charter member of Faith Christian Reformed Church. He served as a deacon and elder in each church along with serving in countless other ways. Through his life Cornie was a Christian example for his family that will be treasured for generations to come. He also supported Christian education and agreed to serve on the boards of the Sioux Center Christian School, Western Christian High School and Dordt College.

In his spare time Cornie liked golfing, and playing pool or other games with friends. Meeting for coffee was a must along with spending time with his children and grandchildren. For several years Cornie and Berdie spent the winter months in Arizona. He truly enjoyed people as well as visiting with friends, relatives and shut-ins .

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 57 years, Berdie Broek of Sioux Center; four daughters and sons-in-law: Judy and Harv Nibbelink, Fonda and Warren Post, Diane and Arlin Van De Berg all of Sioux Center and Kathy and Loren Velgersdyk of Sioux Falls; along with his 12 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Cornie is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, John and Gert Broek of Sioux Center; two sisters and brothers-in-law: Mathilda and John Van Beek of Orange City and Chris and Pete Schouten of Sioux Center; two sisters-in-law: Cornelia Broek of Rock Valley and Cora Broek of Sioux Center; two brothers-in-law: Jim Franken and Gaynor Te Grotenhuis of Sioux Center and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cornie was preceded in death by his grandson, Justin Van De Berg; great-grandson, Dylan Nibbelink; his parents; three brothers: Dave, Arend and Bill Broek; four sisters: Margaret De Koter, Nell Franken, Elsie Te Grotenhuis and Bertha Klein.