Allen Meerbeek

ROCK VALLEY, IOWA – Allen Meerbeek, 83, of Rock Valley, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, January 22, 2021.

   Funeral Service will be 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at Faith Reformed Church in Rock Valley with Pastor Keith Sietstra and Rev. Ron Johnson officiating. Burial with military rites will follow in Valley View Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the church.

   The funeral service will be livestreamed on the church website faithrv.com. Masks and social distancing protocols will be followed. The Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley is assisting the family.

   Allen Meerbeek was born to John and Hattie (De Boer) Meerbeek on March 11, 1937 in Rock Valley, Iowa. At the age of 17 he joined the US Navy and served until he was 21. He then worked and lived in Australia for two years. After moving back to Rock Valley, he met the love of his life, Elvina Vanden Bosch. They were united in marriage in Sumas, Washington on December 6, 1961. Together they lived east of Rock Valley where they raised 9 children. They built and operated Green Acres Drive Inn for 37 years. All 9 children worked in the restaurant where Al and Elvina instilled a great work ethic.

   After selling the Drive Inn to their daughters Mary and Lisa, they enjoyed taking trips with their motor home, going on cruises and traveling together. Al was a hard worker and he took pride in the success of Green Acres. He loved to garden in his spare time and he was also very passionate about all of the dogs that he owned during his life.

   Survivors are his children: Tim (Kim) Meerbeek of Lantana Florida, Dan (Sandy) Meerbeek of Tulsa Oklahoma, Tammy (Mark) Moeller of Luverne, Minnesota, Audra Porter and fiancé Jeff Griffin of Summerville, South Carolina, Monica Dykstra of Spirit Lake, Iowa, Lisa Meerbeek of Rock Valley, Iowa, Mary Niemeyer of Hudson, South Dakota, Allen (Jodi) Meerbeek of Mankato, Minnesota, and Jonathan (Sarah) Meerbeek of Spirit Lake, Iowa; 31 grandchildren; two step grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and sister, Carrie Van Voorst of Rock Valley, Iowa.

   He was preceded in death by his wife, Elvina; his infant son, Mark; his parents, John and Hattie; his sister, Agnes; his brother, John; his grandchildren, Andrew and Benjamin; and his son-in-law, Todd Dykstra.