Arlene Bidwell

Arlene Bidwell, age 86 of Sioux Center, Iowa died Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at Hawarden Regional Healthcare in Hawarden, Iowa.

     A funeral service will take place at 10:30 AM, Monday, November 22, 2021, at New Life Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Dan Kruse officiating, interment will follow the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center.  

    The Service is available to be watched on Livestream at Watch (nlrchurch.org) 

A visitation will be held from 3-5PM on Sunday, November 21, 2021, at New Life Reformed Church.

The family of Arlene prefer memorials be directed to Hawarden Regional Health or Kaitlyn's Fund. 

Arlene Joyce Rozeboom was born to Teunis and Jennie (Roskamp) Rozeboom on April 15, 1935. She joined a family of 9 brothers and sisters with one more sister to follow. Arlene was born and raised on a farm near Carmel, Iowa. At age 16, Arlene met and was courted by Ralph Punt and they were married on August 20, 1952. They briefly settled on his parents' farm until Ralph was drafted. While in the Army, Arlene gave birth to their first two children; Harv in Texas and Rog in Georgia. After Ralph's discharge, Ralph, Arlene, and the boys returned to northwest Iowa and settled on the acreage south and west of Sioux Center. Soon the family grew to include six more children: Wanda, Bernie, Ed, Jane, Mary, and Carol. Arlene and Ralph made certain that all of their children regularly attended church and school, as well as Sunday school and catechism. They continued to farm the land and raise livestock until Ralph was tragically taken in a fatal tractor accident on May 13, 1966, at age 33. Through it all, Arlene remained strong and continued to show her children how to work together and continued to stress the importance of attending church, getting to know Jesus as Savior and getting a good education.

Arlene continued to raise her children alone until she met, and later married, Forrest Bidwell on April 4, 1979. Forrest was a truck driver and Arlene soon started driving with him. They continued to truck together until Forrest passed away on March 5, 2008. Shortly after, Arlene moved to a condo in Bell View Court in Sioux Center. Due to health reasons, she later moved to Crown Point in 2015 and to Royal Meadows in 2016.

Through all the years, Arlene has been a Sunday school teacher, a Farm Bureau President,  farmer,  truck driver, Home Health Aide and CNA.  She enjoyed playing piano and having her children gather around her to sing. She was a charter member of New Life Reformed Church and an active member of the circle. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great grandmother, a confidant, and a friend. But most of all, Arlene has been the best example of how to be an amazing Christian through it all!

Arlene passed away on November 17, 2021, at the Hawarden Regional Hospital in Hawarden, Iowa surrounded by family.

Arlene is survived by her children: son, Harv (LaRae) Punt of Hull, IA; son, Roger (Nancy) Punt of Prinsburg, MN; daughter, Wanda (Alex) Peat of Sioux Center, IA; son, Bernie (Pam) Punt of Sioux Center, IA; son, Ed (Cheryl) Punt of Efland, NC; daughter, Jane Case of Sioux Center, IA;   daughter, Mary (Donald) Morfitt of Spirit Lake, IA; daughter, Carol (Vince) Yusten of Sioux Falls, SD; three stepchildren: Christine Crookson, Bob (Melissa) Bidwell, and Chane (Michelle) Bidwell; 21 grandchildren; 46 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; sister, Marilyn (Lee) Vander Esch of Port Huron, MI; sister, Wilma Tiemeyer of Caledonia, MI; sister-in-law, Donna (Tunis) Rozeboom of Zeeland, MI.

Arlene is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ralph Punt; husband, Forrest Bidwell; 9 siblings; grandson, Jason Gernandt; daughter-in-law, Lori Punt; great-great grandson, Layden Bittner.