Cornelius "Cornie" Folkerts

Inwood, IA: Cornelius “Cornie” Folkerts, 87, of Inwood, Iowa, died Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at Fellowship Village in Inwood. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 26, at 10:30 AM at Inwood Christian Reformed Church in Inwood with Rev. David Smit officiating. Burial, with military rites, will follow at Richland Cemetery of Inwood. Public visitation will begin at 4:00 PM on Friday, June 25 at Inwood Christian Reformed Church in Inwood with the family present from 6:00-8:00 PM. Memorials may be given to the Inwood Museum or Vi Bella, Serves Inc.

Cornelius “Cornie” Folkerts was born October 20, 1933, at the home of his parents, Pierre and Trina (Boersma) Folkerts, seven miles southwest of Inwood, Iowa. His education began in the country school nearby through the elementary years. Cornie graduated from the Inwood High School in 1951. He attended Iowa State College for almost a year before deciding to farm with his dad.

In April of 1954 he was drafted into the United States Army and sent to Fort Leonardwood for basic training, after which he served his country for 18 months in South Korea. Cornie was honorably discharged in February of 1956. He married Gert Van Bemmel on September 7th that same year in the Sioux Falls Christian Reformed Church. They made their home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for 6 months before moving to the family farm. They were blessed to become parents to Jeffrey, Julie, Lauren, and Gregory.

Cornie enjoyed life on the farm planting and harvesting crops and feeding cattle. He was especially proud of his registered Red Angus Cows and their offspring, which were sold throughout the United States, Canada, and South Africa. Cornie was active in the Inwood Christian Reformed Church and his community through Kiwanis, the American Legion, and also playing the part of Santa Claus for many Christmases celebrated at the Inwood Community Center.

In 1987, he sold the farm to begin a new venture, establishing Inwood Machine located on the east edge of the city. One of his most satisfying achievements was inventing and building ten Kid-A-Round Ferris wheels. This ride was popular at county fairs and city celebrations in the tri-state area. Cornie retired in 2011 at the age of 78.

Cornie is survived by his wife, Gert; daughter, Julie (Kirk) Hulstein and their children, Amanda (Carlos) Bahena and their children, Celia, Isaiah, and Isabella, Matthew (Tracey) Hulstein and their child, Elinor, Christopher Hulstein, and Nichole (Tim) Van Dyke and their children, Wyatt and Genevieve; son, Gregory (Jill) Folkerts and their children, Marcel, Daniel, and Emma; son, Jeffrey’s children, Jason Folkerts and Jarod Folkerts; daughter, Lauren’s child, Cynthia Centofanti; sisters, Alice Faber, Sadie Faber, and Bess Bolkema; and brother, Roy Folkerts.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Pierre and Trina; son, Jeffrey Folkerts; daughter, Lauren Centofanti; sisters, Nellie Van Tol and Jean Kowalski; and brother, Henry Folkerts.