Gilbert Burgers

Rock Valley, IA: Gilbert Burgers, 90, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Friday, February 21, 2025, at Fellowship Village of Inwood, Iowa, surrounded by his loving family. A funeral service will be held Tuesday, February 25, at 10:30 AM at Trinity Christian Reformed Church of Rock Valley with Rev. Dan De Groot and Rev. Stanley Groothof officiating. The service will be livestreamed at https://vimeo.com/event/4077519. Burial, with military rites, will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Monday, February 24, from 5:30-7:00 PM at Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley.

 Memorials may be given to Justice For All of Rock Valley.

 Gilbert Burgers was born February 27, 1934, to Dérk and Celia (Heijnekamp) Burgers in Bennekom, Netherlands. He attended Christian School in the Netherlands and later worked for a Newspaper. He immigrated to the United States in 1948 at the age of 14 and came to Rock Valley, Iowa. He worked for several farmers until he was called to serve in the United States Army. Gilbert proudly served from 1955 until being honorably discharged in 1957.

 On September 2, 1959, Gilbert was united in marriage with Wilma Van De Stroet in Rock Valley. Together the couple made their home in Rock Valley where they raised their four children: Derrel, Gloria, Glenda, and Leon. Gilbert and Wilma were charter members of Trinity Christian Reformed Church of Rock Valley.

 Gilbert worked at Roorda Machine shop, until moving to a farm by Alvord, Iowa. He enjoyed hobby farming the most. Gilbert later worked in maintenance at Grand Laboratories in Larchwood, Iowa. Gilbert and Wilma moved to Inwood, Iowa in 1991 and later back to Rock Valley where he worked for Post Equipment separating precious metals. He enjoyed tending to his flower, vegetable and fruit gardens, riding bike, and talking about his time in the Netherlands and this time in the Army. Gilbert returned to the Netherlands many times for visits and has fond memories of them all. 

 Gilbert is survived by three children, Gloria Burgers of Rock Valley, Glenda Jones of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Leon (Lora) Burgers of Alvord; three grandchildren, Sara (Jason) Roskup, Tawny Jones, and Tara Jones; two great-grandchildren, Jada and Alyse Roskup; and sisters-in-law, Beverly Dykstra of Rock Valley and Josie Van De Stroet of Visalia, California.

 Gilbert was preceded in death by his parents, Dérk and Celia; wife, Wilma Burgers; son, Derrel Burgers; grandson, Michael Lottman; two brothers, Jacob “Jake” Burgers, and Dick Burgers; and four sisters, Neeltje Willemsen, Aaltje Van Holland, Teunisje “Tilly” Van Holland and Willemina (Minnie) De Man.