Daryl Jay Vander Kooi

Daryl Vander Kooi, 82, of Sioux Center, Iowa died November 6, 2022, at the Crown Point Estates in Sioux Center, Iowa. 

A visitation with family present will be held on Friday from 5-7PM, at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday at 10:00AM at the First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Kurt Monroe and Rev Dr. Wayne Kobes officiating.   Funeral service available to live stream: Daryl Vander Kooi Service

A private family committal service will be held at a later date in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

In lieu of flowers or gifts the Vander Kooi family prefers memorials be directed to the Sioux Center Christian School Foundation, Western Christian High School, Unity Christian High School or Dordt University.

Daryl Jay Vander Kooi was born to David and Edith (Woodwyk) Vander Kooi in Grandville, Michigan on July 27, 1940. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Hudsonville, Michigan. Daryl attended the Hudsonville Christian School and Unity Christian High School except for his junior year at Hudsonville Public School.

After high school, Daryl attended Calvin College and graduated with a degree in education in 1963. However before graduating, he had taught 5^th grade at Hope Protestant Reformed Christian School between his junior and senior years at Calvin College.

On December 16, 1960, he married Maris Elaine Hager. After their wedding, they lived in Grand Rapids. Maris was an RN at St. Mary's Hospital while Daryl finished his degree. Their first daughter Michelle Elaine was born during the year that Daryl taught 5^th grade. Their second daughter Dalaine Joy was born in April of 1963. During the summer of 1963, the family moved to Manhattan (Churchill), Montana where Daryl taught Speech, English, and History until 1971. Daryl worked on a farm part-time while completing his Master's degree at Montana State University. Their son, David Shane was born in June of 1971. Shortly after his birth, the family moved to Hull, Iowa, and Daryl started teaching speech at Dordt College. While teaching at Dordt, Daryl attended summer classes at the University of Iowa, University of South Dakota, and Montana State University. During the 1978-79 academic year, the family moved back to Bozeman, Montana and Daryl completed his doctoral degree. They moved back to Sioux Center to continue teaching in the Communication Department at Dordt.

In 2002, both Daryl and Maris retired, but continued to work as volunteers for Wycliffe Bible Translators, Rehoboth Christian School, World Renew Disaster Relief Services, the Lyon County Conservation Board at Lake Pahoja, and other places until health problems limited their abilities and time.

Daryl leaves behind a son, Shane and his wife Kristi and their children Heather, Shauna, Jonah (Claire) and Megan; 3 granddaughters, Jessica and her son, Daishoun; Lindsey, and Shannon. He is also survived by his stepmother Erna Vander Kooi, brother Bob Vander Kooi, sisters Deb (Jerry) Bosgraff, Joan (Jay) Scholten, Sharon Smeyers, and brother-in-law Terry (Ruth) Hager. This does not show the true legacy that he leaves behind.

He was preceded in death by his parents, David and Edith Vander Kooi; his wife, Maris; three daughters: Michelle McMurrey, Dalaine Pfeil and an infant daughter.