Winifred Kooima

Rock Valley, IA: Winifred Kooima, 87, of Rock Valley, Iowa, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, February 17, 2018 at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Monday, February 26, from 5:00-6:30 PM at Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley. Memorial services will be held Tuesday, February 27, at 10:30 AM at First Reformed Church of Rock Valley with Rev. Harlan De Jong officiating. Family burial will be held prior to the service at Valley View Cemetery.

Winifred Joyce (Smith) Kooima was born March 6, 1930, in Hull, Iowa, daughter of John H and Winnie (De Vries) Smith. She lived in Sioux Center until her sophomore year of school. Her family then moved to Rock Valley where she met the love of her life, Jr. Kooima. Winifred graduated from RVHS in 1948.

Jr. and Winifred got married on June 1, 1949, in Arkansas. They lived at various Air Force bases, including Ramey Air Force Base in Puerto Rico.

Jr. and Winifred returned to Rock Valley in 1952 to raise their family of five on the farm south of Rock Valley. Winifred's days kept busy bringing delicious lunches to the guys working in the fields, taking the children back and forth to various activities while being a faithful prayer warrior. Winifred was the family seamstress. She did lots of sewing for her daughters' weddings and was the “go to” person for patches, tears, zippers and hems. Winifred loved her family. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Winifred was a nurse’s aide at Valley Manor (now called Whispering Heights) for 12 years. She was a member of First Reformed Church in Rock Valley, where she taught Sunday School and Catechism along with being a member of Mary Circle.

Winifred spent her last years at Whispering Heights where she was loved by all. She was a caring person that was always concerned about others before herself. Winifred entered into eternal rest on Saturday, February 17, at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley surrounded by family.

She is survived by her 4 daughters, 11 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Daughter and son-in-law Linda (Kooima) and Chuck Witte of Wheatland, WY, their son and daughter-in-law Chad and Genee' Witte of Laramie, WY, daughter and son-in-law Nickole (Witte) and Dan Fiers of Loveland, CO. Daughter and son-in-law Gloria (Kooima) and Larry Dirksen of Rock Valley, IA, their son and daughter-in-law Cory and Christina Dirksen of Phoenix, AZ, daughter and son-in-law Kristy (Dirksen) and Chad Van Beek of Rock Valley, IA, and son and daughter-in-law Dan and Alicia Dirksen of Sioux Falls, SD. Daughter and son-in-law Karen (Kooima) and Ron Owens of Orange City, IA, their daughter and son-in-law Stephanie (Bierbaum) and Rob Howard of Woodstock, GA, son Dustin Bierbaum of Orange City, IA, and son and daughter-in-law Nate and Jen Owens of West Des Moines, IA. Daughter and son-in-law Lori (Kooima) and Scott Ohlemann of Rock Rapids, IA, son Brandon Witt of Maui, HI, and daughter Mickee Witt of Mumbai, India. Mic's son Michael Kooima of Anaheim, CA.

Preceded in death by husband Clarence “Jr” Kooima; son Clark “Mic” Kooima; granddaughter Kelsey Witt; parents; sister Jerry (Jim) Smith; brothers John H (Bonnie) Smith, Gerben Smith and infant brother; special cousin Betty (Pete) Eisma.

Visitation

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM ,Monday, February 26, 2018
Porter Funeral Home ~ Rock Valley
1704 15th Street Rock Valley, Iowa, Sioux 51247

Memorial Service

10:30 AM ,Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Rock Valley First Reformed Church
1501 16th Street Rock Valley, Iowa, Sioux 51247