Cora Van

Doon, Iowa: Cora Van Surksum, 85, of Doon, Iowa died Saturday, February 15, 2014 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at the First Reformed Church in Doon with Rev. Don Baker officiating. Burial will follow at the Hillside Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be 6:00-8:00 p.m., Monday, February 17, 2014 at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley. Memorials may be directed to the Foster Grandparent Program and condolences for the family may be left online at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Cora, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Lems) Gorter, was born July 12, 1928 in Lyon County, Iowa. She grew up there and attended rural and Christian Schools and in her teenage years, she helped neighboring farm ladies when they had their babies. She married Gary Van Surksum on December 26, 1957 and had three children, Lloyd, Donna, and Darlo. Cora and Gary later divorced. Cora worked part-time in local cafes while raising her children. She later worked at TCS (formerly known as Kooima Machine) in the packing department retiring after 15 years. She then joined the Foster Grandparent Program in Rock Valley Schools, mostly working with 3rd graders. This involved helping with reading, coats, mittens, scarves, and sometimes wiping little tears. After 9 years, she developed Parkinson's disease forcing her to give up the job she really loved. Cora was an active member of the Doon First Reformed Church.

Surviving Cora are her children, Lloyd Van Surksum, Donna (Marv) Kempema, and Darlo Van Surksum all of Doon; nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; two brothers, Andy (Paulette) Gorter of Sioux City, IA, Ardell (Connie) Gorter of Jasper, MN; sister, Betty Gorter of Sioux Falls, SD; two sisters-in-law, Albertha Gorter Johnson of Spearfish, SD, June Gorter of Linn Valley, KS; many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Elizabeth; two brothers, Lawrence and Leonard Gorter; and great-grandchild, Peyton Marie Richards.