Effie Van Essen

Sioux Center, IA: Evelyn “Effie” Van Essen, 97, of Sioux Center, Iowa, formerly of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Thursday, May 17, 2018 at Royale Meadows Care Center in Sioux Center. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 22, at 10:30 AM at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley, Iowa with Rev. E.C. Adams officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Monday, May 21, from 6:00-8:00 PM at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley. Memorials may be given to the Netherlands Reformed Christian School or Sioux Center Home Health and Hospice.

Evelyn “Effie” (Kelderman) Van Essen was born March 9, 1921, to Arie and Wilhelmina (Beukhof) Kelderman. On October 1, 1942, Effie was united in marriage with Henry Van Essen in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. Together they farmed in the Inwood, Iowa and Fairview, South Dakota area until their retirement in 1978 when they moved to Rock Valley. Henry died May 19, 1980.

In addition to her duties as the family homemaker, Effie worked many places as a hired maid in the Fairview area. During her life she lived in the Fairview area, Canton, South Dakota, Inwood, Rock Valley, Aspen Heights Assisted Living in Hull, Iowa, and most recently at Royale Meadows in Sioux Center, Iowa. She was a member of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation. Effie loved to crochet afghans and hot pads, and enjoyed making coffee cake for her grandchildren.

Effie is survived by her four children: Marcia (Tony) Rozeboom of Bruno, Arkansas, Ethel (Earl) Fick of Hull, Iowa, Harold (Lavonne) Van Essen of Sioux Center, Iowa, Arvin (Carol) Van Essen of Rock Valley, Iowa; 15 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Jeanette Gorter of Doon, Iowa; sister-in-law, Gertrude Kelderman of Rock Valley, Iowa; and brother-in-law, James Decker of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arie and Wilhelmina; husband, Henry; brother, Art Kelderman; and two sisters, Joyce Decker and Myrt “Minnie” Keizer.

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