Tilda Van Berkum

Rock Valley, IA: Tilda N. Van Berkum, 105, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Wednesday, November 7, 2018, at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley. Memorial services will be held Saturday, November 10, at 3:00 PM at First Reformed Church of Rock Valley with Rev. Verlyn Boone officiating. Visitation, with the family present, will be held prior to the memorial service from 1:00-2:00 PM at the church. Following visitation, burial will be held at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley.

Tilda Nellie Van Berkum, daughter of Huibert and Anna (De Roos) Remmerde, was born September 1, 1913. She was united in marriage to Luke Van Berkum on June 9, 1931. The couple farmed until Luke died in 1976. During that time they also operated a dairy and sold bottled milk. Luke and Tilda spent many winters in their trailer home in Mesa, Arizona. Her yard there was full of flowers. They took geraniums back to Iowa each spring.

Tilda started a greenhouse and sold garden produce and small started plants. She always had a passion for vegetable gardening, but she loved her flowers the most. Tilda grew roses and many other perennials. Her garden was full of color from petunias, zinnias and potted geraniums. If there was a vacant spot in the yard, she planted something in it. If gave her great pleasure to watch cars drive slowly by her garden spots and enjoy her flowers. The inside of Tilda’s home was also full of African Violets, ferns and other ornamentals. She enjoyed starting plants and giving them to those who admired them. She enjoyed talking to people. It gave her great pleasure to converse with children of former customers that could remember their parents buying plants from her greenhouse.

Tilda was a member of the First Reformed Church of Rock Valley. She lived in Whispering Heights in Rock Valley the past two years.

Left to cherish Tilda’s life are her children, Clifford (Phyllis) Van Berkum of Swea City, Iowa, Lois Rensink of Hospers, Iowa, and David (Marly) Van Berkum of Sioux City, Iowa; daughter-in-law, Joyce Van Berkum of Rock Valley; 19 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and 39 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Huibert and Anna; husband, Luke; 2 sons, Russell and Harold Van Berkum; daughter-in-law, Marge Van Berkum; son-in-law, Glenn Rensink; 2 grandchildren; 1 great-grandson; 4 sisters; and 2 brothers.

Visitation

Saturday November 10, 2018 , 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM at Rock Valley First Reformed Church

Graveside Service

Saturday November 10, 2018 , 2:15 PM at Valley View Cemetery

Memorial Service

Saturday November 10, 2018 , 3:00 PM at Rock Valley First Reformed Church