Nora Beth Vonk

ROCK VALLEY, IOWA ~ Nora Beth Vonk, 66, of Rock Valley, passed away surrounded by family, on Friday, March 14, 2025, at Select Specialty Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Faith Reformed Church with Pastor Thomas Kunkel officiating. Burial will be at Valley View Cemetery, followed by a luncheon and time of fellowship at the church. The funeral service will be livestreamed on the church website at www.faithrv.com. Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the church. The Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. The family prefers memorials be directed to Hope Haven, Faith Reformed Church, or Lighthouse, all in Rock Valley.

Nora Beth Vonk was born October 30, 1958, in Sioux Center, Iowa to John and Eleanor (Gesink) Vonk. She grew up on a farm near Rock Valley where she enjoyed the outdoors and animals. Born with cerebral palsy, Nora was enrolled in Hope Haven in 1964. Hope Haven helped her learn to read and write and develop her valuable life skills.

Nora had a great work ethic and was determined to overcome her hardships. She took great pride in her work and had lots of patience in the process. Her jobs included day care assistant, working at Parkview Industries, and janitorial work at the Rock Valley Post Office. Nora was always a great worker with a great sense of humor and a terrific attitude. She will be greatly missed by her community and all who loved and supported her.

Nora enjoyed living independently, Special Olympics, going out with friends, riding her scooter around town, and sharing her life with her best friend, Kathy Lems.

Survivors include her mother, Eleanor; 1 sister, Nancy (Ken) Kramer of Cedar Lake, Indiana; 4 brothers, Dr. Brian (Mary Beth) Vonk of Manchester, Tennessee, Dr. Galen (Marlys) Vonk of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Orin (Christine) Vonk of Rock Valley, and Dr. Jack Vonk of Sioux Falls; and many nieces and nephews.

Nora was preceded in death by her father, John Vonk; grandparents, Neal and Tillie (Feekes) Vonk and Christian and Elizabeth (Colsman) Gesink.