Elizabeth Dokter

     Funeral Services for Elizabeth Dokter, age 89, of Sioux Center who passed away Wednesday afternoon, September 28, 2022 at the Crown Pointe Care Center in Sioux Center will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, October 3, 2022 at the Bethel Christian Church in Sioux Center with the Rev.'s John Lee & Duane Tinklenberg officiating.  The funeral Service can be live streamed at the Bethel CRC Facebook page:  Liz Dokter Service  or on the Bethel CRC YouTube Chanel: Liz Dokter Service

Visitation will be held from 2-4 pm Sunday, October 2, 2022 at the Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center, IA. 

The family of Elizabeth Dokter prefers memorials be directed to the Senior Companion program. 

Elizabeth Dokter was born December 15, 1932 near Rock Rapids, to Leonard & Wilhemina (Rozeboom) Klarenbeek.  Liz married Thomas “Tom” Kooima on 12/7/51.  They farmed north of Rock Valley for one year prior to Tom’s service in the Army during the Korean Conflict from 1952 until 1954.  The couple then farmed south of Rock Valley, along with their 2 children, where Liz helped out on the farm as needed, made meals to bring out to the field, raised a garden and canned most of the produce.  Liz worked in the dietary department at Valley Manor from 1975 to 1995.  Tom passed away October 11, 1987 at the age of 56.

Liz later married Gerrit “Gary” Dokter on May 20, 1995 and moved from Rock Valley to Sioux Center.  They spent 23 years enjoying life together.  Liz worked at Hy-Vee as a “demo lady” and enjoyed meeting people while handing out her treats.  She later volunteered at Sioux Center Health as a greeter by the front door, and also at Royale Meadows for a short time.  Liz enjoyed cooking and baking.  She loved spending time looking through cookbooks, catalogs, fixing puzzles, and enjoying Sunday dinners and coffee with family.

Her greatest trial in life happened on 1/10/19. As she was reading her Bible, her eyesight was suddenly taken from her.  She learned to cope with her disability with help from her family and friends, along with many devices made for the blind. Through it all, the “joy of the Lord was her strength,” and it was obvious to all those around her.  She was able to live independently, while being blind, for 3-1/2 years before moving to Crown Pointe Estates Care Center in July.

Elizabeth is survived by her two children:

• Darrell Kooima of Sioux Center
• Deb (Bruce) Dooyema of Sioux Center and children:

    Lindsey (Aaron) Bobier of Tea, SD

    Tessa (Kyle) Vanden Bosch of Boyden, IA, children Emalyn & Logan

    Whitney (Kyra) Kats of Sioux Falls, SD

Her four stepchildren:

• Larry (Judy) Dokter of Orange City and children:

   Barry (Amy) Dokter, Sioux Center, IA

   Brent (Kimberly) Dokter, Boyden, IA

   Ryan (Missy) Dokter, Orange City, IA

• Galen (Barbara) Dokter of Littleton, CO and children:

   Joshua (Lisa) Dokter, Placentia, CA

   Adam (Melissa) Dokter, Pine, CO

   Courtney (Jon) Smith, Andersonville, IL  

• Joyce (Jim) Zittritsch of Norfolk, NE and children:

   Megan (Craig) Johnson, Omaha, NE

   Mandy (Nate) Johnsen, Omaha, NE

• Janice (James) Calkhoven of Sioux Falls, SD and children:

   Kansas (Danny) Fergen, Lennox, SD

   Jamie (Charlie) Zomermaand, Maurice, IA

   Kasondra (Jeff) Kiel, Sioux Falls, SD 

   Kelsie (Nick) Vander Zwaag, Clive, IA

   Jasmyn (Jon) Van’t Hul, Omaha, NE

   Jamaica (Dominic) Bargfrede, Sioux Falls, SD

She was blessed to have 44 great grandchildren, and 2 great great grandchildren.

Those left to cherish her memory are:

• Brother: Clarence (Mary Ann) Klarenbeek of Harrisburg
• Sisters: Jennie (John Keizer) of Sheldon, and Ann (James) Wielenga of Hull.
• Sisters-in-law: Adriana Klarenbeek, Geneva Klarenbeek, Betty Kooima, Jan Van Bochove

She was preceded in death by:

• Her parents, her first husband, Tom; her late husband, Gary
• Brothers: Ray, Dick, Lane, William and Gerrit Klarenbeek
• Sisters: Willemina Den Besten, Gert Koedam
• Brothers-in-law: John Den Besten, Bill Koedam, John Keizer, Jim Wielenga, Gerrit Kooima, and Ed Driesen
• Sisters-in-law: Dora Klarenbeek, Ann Klarenbeek, Lillian Klarenbeek, Jennie Klarenbeek, Elsiena Driesen, Gert Van Gorp, Gerdena Bomgaars, Jeanette Vande Griend