Geraldine "Geri" Klomp

Rock Valley, IA: Geraldine “Geri” Klomp, 94, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Wednesday, May 10, 2023, at Hegg Health Center in Rock Valley. A funeral service will be held Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 10:00 AM at Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley. Visitation will be held prior to the funeral from 9:00-10:00 AM at Porter Funeral Home. Burial will be held at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley.

   Geraldine “Geri” Annetta Van Sloten was born on September 4, 1928, to John and Nettie (Van Maanen) Van Sloten in Hull, Iowa. She was the youngest of ten children. Geri grew up on farms near Hull and Rock Valley, Iowa and attended a country school. As a teen she worked as a housekeeper and at Fanny Farmer Candy Co. in Michigan, while living with her sister Henrietta.

   On December 15, 1948, she was united in marriage with Edward Klomp, the love of her life. They lived on a farm near Hawarden, Iowa for a short time, and then in Rock Valley, where they raised four daughters, and a son who passed away at 18 months. Geri ran a card and bookstore in her home for many years, later moving the business ‘Cards and Yards’ downtown, which was co-owned/operated with Gene and Nella Driesen. Later, she continued to serve the community with her excellent customer service at a variety of Rock Valley businesses. 

   Ed passed away in June of 1997; Geri continued to live in Rock Valley through her retirement, and most recently was a resident at Riverview Ridge Assisted Living. Geri and Ed were charter members of Trinity Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley.

   Geri enjoyed gardening and keeping a flower garden most of her life. She had a green thumb and her geraniums and African violets especially thrived. Geri loved to collect antiques and quilts and took great care in decorating her home. She was a wonderful cook and was family famous for her pot roast, mashed potatoes with gravy, chocolate chip cookies, angel food cake and huge spread of holiday food. In her younger years, Geri often spent time visiting her elderly aunts, cousins, and widows from the church. Geri and Ed enjoyed camping together at Lake Okoboji with relatives and traveling to Texas and Arizona in winter. She loved to sing with her whole heart and remembered all the verses to many hymns and songs. They were a great comfort to her after Ed died. Playing UNO with the grandchildren was a highlight, and in her later years Geri loved playing Rummikub every chance she could.

   On May 10, 2023, she entered into eternal rest at the age of 94. Geri is rejoicing in glory that she can now hear perfectly.

She is survived by her 4 daughters and their families:

Sherry & Don Kooima of Jenison, MI

                Rachelle (Mark) Nibbelink, Jenison,MI                                                               

                                 Jabin, Emmet

                Tim (Susan) Kooima, Grandville, MI

                                 Anna, Rebecca, Leah, Nathaniel

                Stephanie (Barry) Postma, Harrogate, YKS, England                           

                                Luke, Drew, Taylor

                Sara Kooima and Wayne King, Lincoln, MA                                       

                                Megan

Noreen & John VandeWeerd of Orange City, IA

                Jennifer VandeWeerd, Venice Beach, CA

                Dustin (Megan) VandeWeerd of Rural Hall, NC

Kathy & Lynn Bleeker of Sioux Center, IA

           Amy (Brian) Van Beek, Sioux Center, IA

                Taeden, Tyce, Traevin

           Lori (Kendall) Wassenaar, Orange City, IA

                Paige Wassenaar and her son, Beckham

                Cassidy (Justin) Paulzine

                Elyse, Elijah

Connie and Tim Bloemhof of Ripon, CA

                Ashley (Patrick) Knoblauch of Miami, FL

                Courtney (Riley) Schaap of Shreveport, LA

                Brittany Bloemhof of Denver, CO

Two sisters-in-law, Helen Klomp and Nella Driesen.   

   Geri was preceded in death by her husband, Edward; son, Randall; all her siblings and their spouses, Gerrit and Gertrude Van Sloten, Coba and Ted Boersma, John and Agnes Van Sloten, Henrietta and Herman Olivier, Henry and Annie Van Sloten, Bill and Geneva Van Sloten, and Willie Van Sloten; 2 infant siblings; her in-laws, Matilda and Gerald Baartman; brothers-in-law, Marvin Klomp and Gene Driesen; son-in-law, Randy Waterman; and infant great-grandson, Matthew Kooima.