Elsie Kooima

Rock Valley, IA: Elsie Mary Kooima, 89, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Sunday, July 29, 2018 at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley. Memorial services will be held Wednesday, August 1, at 11:00 AM at Faith Reformed Church of Rock Valley with Rev. Mike Molenaar officiating. Private family burial will be held prior to the service at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation with the family present, will be held Tuesday, July 31, from 6:00 – 7:30 PM at Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley. Memorials may be given to Shepherd’s Table Outreach Ministry – Rock Valley (https://www.zestosinc.com/shepherds-table).

Elsie Mary Kooima, daughter of Arie and Bertha (Ver Doorn) Gaalswyk, was born July 4, 1929 at the family farm west of Rock Valley, Iowa. During her childhood years, the Gaalswyk family moved to a farm east of Rock Valley. Elsie graduated from Rock Valley High School. Following high school, Elsie received her teaching certificate and taught in country school for two years.

She married Joe Elmer Kooima on February 10, 1950 at First Reformed Church in Rock Valley. Together the couple farmed west of Rock Valley and moved into town in 1991. Elsie was a true farmer’s wife. She liked being outside gardening, mowing, and helping with chores and field work while still making time to bring countless lunches to the field. Oftentimes you would find Elsie and Elmer together riding in the truck hauling grain to town.

Elsie always loved spending time with her precious family. She also liked to cook and was a great “dump” cook. She enjoyed having coffee with friends, crocheting, doing crossword puzzles, and camping with family. Elsie had a strong faith and longed for the day she would be with her Lord and her Elmer. She was a member for several years at Doon United Reformed Church and most recently a member of Faith Reformed Church in Rock Valley.

Survivors include her children, Joel and wife Faye of Rock Valley, Bertha and husband Gerald Van Den Top of Doon, Iowa, Arlan and wife Cora of Canton, South Dakota, and Kathy and husband Henry Vande Vegte of Rock Valley; 17 grandchildren; and 33 great-grandchildren.

Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, Arie and Bertha; husband, Elmer on January 28, 2018; grandson, Michael Kooima of Arlan and Cora; sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Cornie Huyser; and 3 brothers and sisters-in-law, Joe and Marge Gaalswyk, Tom and Freida Gaalswyk, and Alvin and Janet Gaalswyk.

Visitation

Memorial Service