Kenneth L. Ver Meer

Rock Valley, Iowa: Kenneth L. Ver Meer, 78, of Rock Valley, Iowa, formerly of Hull, Iowa, died Friday, December 10, 2021, at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley.
Memorial service will be held Tuesday, December 14, at 2:00 PM at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley with Rev. Dr. Verlyn Boone officiating. A time of refreshments and visiting with the family will follow the service. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com.
Kenneth LeRoy Ver Meer, son of Gerrit and Jeanette (Mulder) Ver Meer, was born August 10, 1943, one mile west of the Perkins, Iowa corner. Ken graduated from 8th grade at the Perkins Country School. He did farm work at home and for the neighbors. After receiving his driver’s license, Ken started masonry work.
On February 16, 1968, Ken married Dorothy Beckman at Inwood, Iowa. Together the couple made their home in Hull, Iowa. In 1969, Ken started working construction. He enjoyed it so much that he would take on side jobs in addition to his daily work. Ken and Dorothy were blessed with two children, Genelle and Kurtis. In 1983, Ken opted for a career change. He became a machinist at Hayes Albion, now Total Component Solutions, in Rock Valley, Iowa. Ken did keep his hammer handy though and would still moonlight on the side. In 1990, Ken’s neighbor, Art Moss, asked Ken to do some construction jobs and the next thing Ken knew, he was driving tractor during harvest time. Then in 2002, Ken retired from being a machinist and started working with Arlan Moss full time. He really enjoyed his time working with Arlan. In 2013 Ken retired.
Following retirement, Ken and Dorothy moved to an apartment in Rock Valley. On October 15, 2016, Ken moved to Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull. Then on December 15, 2017, he moved to Whispering Heights in Rock Valley.
There were two very important things in Ken’s life; knowing he was a child of God and spending time with his family. Ken also loved when people would visit him at the nursing home. He also enjoyed reading his Bible and listening to hymns on CD. In Ken’s younger years, he liked to go camping and fishing. Ken also taught himself how to use a scroll saw and build furniture. A gift he would share with his family.
Ken is survived by his wife of 53 years, Dorothy; daughter, Genelle Ver Meer of Leesburg, Virginia; son, Kurt and wife Lyla Ver Meer of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 4 grandchildren, Destiny Ver Meer, Katlyn Ver Meer, Karissa Ver Meer, and Noah Wilde; great-grandson, Axl Kenneth Sankey; sister, Gert Vander Hamm of Sioux Center, Iowa; brother, Jim and wife Elaine “Chris” Ver Meer of Boyden, Iowa; brother-in-law, Paul Hoekema of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and several nephews and nieces.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Arie and Annie Beckman; infant sister, Ruth Ver Meer; 2 nieces, Lisa Vander Esch and Lori Hamstra; brother-in-law, Gene Vander Hamm; infant grandson, Conner Wilde; brother and sister-in-law, Harold and Nilda Ver Meer; sister, Marilyn Hoekema; and nephew, Jimmy Ver Meer.