Lyda Van Otterloo

Rock Valley, IA: Lyda Van Otterloo, 88, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley. Funeral services will be held Friday, February 14, at 2:00 PM at Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley with Rev. J.J. Witvoet officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Following the burial service, Lyda’s family will greet friends for a time of visiting during a luncheon at the Netherlands Reformed Christian School from 3:30-4:30 PM. 

   Lyda was born in Corsica, South Dakota, the fifth of eleven children of Sam and Gertie (Zomer) Koedam. She was raised on a farm near Corsica.

   Lyda will always be remembered for her patience, caring nature, gentle heart, and unconditional love for her family. She was a good listener but never ‘took sides.’ Besides being a great mom, she was also a great mother-in-law.

   As a teen, Lyda moved to Rock Valley where she worked at the bakery. She met Richard Van Otterloo in Iowa and they married on June 23, 1950. They made their home in Rock Valley and later moved to an acreage outside of town where they raised eight children. Lyda took care of her children and the household, and her incredible work ethic meant she wasn't scared to get her hands dirty outside. After her kids were grown, Lyda then cared for others as a home health assistant. She was also employed in the kitchen at Hegg Memorial Hospital where she enjoyed working alongside her daughter and granddaughters. These girls still talk about having a hard time keeping up with their grandma who at the time was in her late sixties.

   Lyda enjoyed frequently gathering with her large family, especially annual vacations to the lake. Rich and Lyda also enjoyed taking their kids and grandkids fishing. Lyda always brought a fully-stocked cooler including hot dogs for the bonfire and a large mason jar filled with soapy water and a washcloth.

   If a big project was underway for a family member, she would provide the work crew with her homemade soup,  fresh baked bread, and a pan of brownies for dessert. Her favorite place to go was to church until her final days. The staff at Whispering Heights thought of her as a sweetheart, and she in turn loved them dearly.  Her grandchildren and great grandchildren will fondly remember their weekly Wednesday night and Sunday visits. She is a hero to her children and will not be forgotten.

   Left to cherish her memories are her eight children: Rhonda (Loren) Klarenbeek, Bonnie(Bob) Davelaar, Cheryl (Glenn) Lange, Don (Josie) Van Otterloo, Lorri (Jerry) Schlotfeldt, Rick Van Otterloo, Lisa Groeneweg, John (Marlys) Van Otterloo; 24 grandchildren; 40 great grandchildren; brothers, Sam and Jim; as well as several brothers and sisters-in-law and nieces and nephews. Lyda was preceded in death by her husband, Richard; granddaughters, Shawn Rozeboom and Missy Lange; her parents; brothers Bill, Herm, John, and Andrew; sisters Hermina, Jen, Ruth, and Martha: and several brothers and sisters-in-law.