Bernard Edward Nibbelink

Bernard Nibbelink age 91 of Sioux Center, IA died Thursday, September 8, 2022, at Hillcrest Health Care Center in Hawarden, Iowa.

    A funeral service will be held at 10:30AM on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at the First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Kurt Monroe officiating.  Interment will follow the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.   

    Visitation with the family present will be held from 5-7PM on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at the Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center.

Memorial contributions may be directed to World Renew (formerly CRWRC), https://worldrenew.net

    Bernard Edward Nibbelink was born September 7, 1931, to Herman and Cynthia (Te Grotenhuis) Nibbelink in Orange City, Iowa, the youngest in a family of 10 children. He grew up on the family farm outside Orange City, where he and his closest siblings enjoyed a big pond reputed to be 40 feet deep, had pet horses and dogs, and sledded on car hoods behind tractors in winter. Bernie graduated from Northwestern Academy in Orange City.  After the Academy, he served in the US Army during the Korean War, reaching the rank of Sergeant.  He was stationed in Georgia and did most of his active duty in Korea.

    On October 21, 1953, Bernie married the lovely Hazel Sprik of Ireton. They spent much of their courtship roller skating all over the Midwest, including at the largest roller rink in the country at the time in Chicago. The couple made their home in Orange City, where Bernie co-owned and operated the Phillips 66 service station. In 1968, after learning he was allergic to motor oil, Bernie and Hazel moved their family to Sioux Center, Iowa where Bernie started a new career with German Farmers Mutual Insurance Company as a Property Casualty Claims Adjuster and Fieldman.  Bernie did this work faithfully until his retirement in 2017.  Bernie and Hazel enjoyed many years wintering in Mesa, Arizona where they cultivated friendships with people from all over. 

    Bernie was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center where he served as an elder and a deacon.  He was a school board member and board president for Unity Christian High School in Orange City. He was a member of the American Legion and VFW posts in Sioux Center and remained ever proud but modest about his service.  

    A lover of music, Bernie played piano beautifully by ear every day at home.  He relaxed by playing and singing gospel and contemporary Christian songs.  He especially enjoyed listening to Elvis Presley singing gospel.  He loved his Savior and his family and above all was a devoted husband and loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and a loyal friend and confidante to many.  Bernie was a kind, compassionate, and generous man.

    He is survived by his wife, Hazel Nibbelink (residing in Hawarden, Iowa); five children: Deb (Jim) Sytsma of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Canada, Lin (Darcy Emehiser) Nibbelink of Runnells IA, Dale (Malia) Nibbelink of Worthington MN, Mary (Dan) Reitsma of Palatine IL, Rob Nibbelink of Edwards CO; ten grandchildren and step-grandchildren: Nathan (Mandy) Suhr-Sytsma of Decatur GA, Jenn Sytsma of Wellington, New Zealand, Josh (Ashley) Nibbelink of Sibley IA, Kris (Amy) Nibbelink of Brewster MN, Aliza Reitsma of Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan, Jakob Reitsma of Palatine IL, Alexis Nibbelink of Boston MA, Caitlin Nibbelink of Edwards CO, Maggie Urwin of Sioux Falls, SD and Joe (Chantel) Urwin of Sheldon, IA. He is also survived by nine great-grandchildren, and many other nieces, nephews, friends, and extended family members including brother-in-law and sister-in-law Stan and Leona Sprik of Edgerton MN. 

    Bernard was preceded in death by his parents, all his siblings, many of his wife’s siblings, and two great-grandchildren. He has entered into the glorious presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.