William P. Burggraaf

ROCK VALLEY, IOWA – William P. Burggraaf, 86, of Rock Valley, passed away on Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley.

   Public viewing will be from noon to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 4 at the Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley. Committal Service will begin at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, October 5 at the Calvin Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley, with procession to Valley View Cemetery for burial and military rites. Visitation with the family will be from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Calvin Christian Reformed Church followed by the Memorial Service at 11:30 a.m. with Rev. Gideon Wamala officiating. A luncheon will follow the memorial service.

   Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

   Memorials may be directed to Sioux Center Health Hospice and Home Care or Hope Haven Wheelchair Ministry.

   William P. Burggraaf, the son of Peter and Ada (Vanden Over) Burggraaf, was born August 9, 1933 in Inwood, Iowa. Bill served in the U.S. Army. He was a Korean War veteran and was stationed in Germany. On March 23, 1960, Bill married Geneva Statema at the Ireton Christian Reformed Church in Ireton, Iowa. They made their home in Rock Valley. Bill worked at Kooima Manufacturing (currently TCS) for over 40 years. He drove school bus for Rock Valley Christian School for over 20 years. In his retirement years, Bill volunteered by repairing wheelchairs at Hope Haven in Rock Valley. This was highlighted by a wheelchair distribution trip to Guatemala in 2008. In 2018, Bill was honored to take a trip to Washington DC with the Midwest Honor Flight.

   Bill is survived by his wife of 59 years, Geneva; son, Les (Kim) Burggraaf of Rock Valley; son-in-law, Doug Van Engen of Orange City, Iowa; daughter, Sharon (Paul) De Groot of Saint Louis, Missouri;  daughter, Audrey (Doug) Broek of Ireton, Iowa; son, Harlan (Sara) Burggraaf of Omaha, Nebraska; grandchildren, Tyler Burggraaf, Nicole Van Beek, Paige Elbers, Larissa Van Dyke, Danielle Kuiken, Dylan Van Engen, Brianna Zandstra, Josh De Groot, Luke De Groot, Lindsey Kostelyk, Nathan Broek, Mikaela Broek, Jacelyn Burggraaf, and Emmalynn Burggraaf; great grandchildren, Ruxin Burggraaf, Asher Burggraaf, Tate Burggraaf, Paisley Elbers, Piper Elbers, Sawyer Van Beek, Connor Van Dyke, Brynn Van Dyke, Will Van Dyke, Jorgia Kuiken, and Huxley Kuiken; sister, Barb (Cornie) Brands; brother, Jim (Joyce) Burggraaf; sister-in-law, Clazina Burggraaf; sister, Joan Born; sister, Arlene (Bob) Vanden Top; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Otto and Priscilla Huizenga; and sister-in-law, Bertha Statema.

   He was preceded in death by his daughter, Brenda Van Engen; son in infancy, Rodney Burggraaf; father and mother, Peter and Ada Burggraaf; father and mother-in-law, Peter and Anna Statema; and brother, Harvey Burggraaf.