I was born March 14, 1932, to John and Johanna (VerMeer) Kooiker near Middleburg, IA. I helped on the farm, attended and graduated from country grade school. I took piano lessons from Teneva Koerselman for fifty cents a lesson and Teneva came over with an older car, too. I then had two years at Western Christian High, in Hull, IA. I then moved with my parents to a farm west of Hardwick, MN and graduated from Luverne High School in 1949. I was secretary at the A.A. Anderson Real Estate and Insurance Office, at Luverne, for two years. I also took organ lessons from A.C. Hartog and played organ at First CRC Edgerton where my family was members.

   I married Harvard “Bud” Rozeboom on June 20, 1951 in Edgerton. We farmed on several farms before moving to the farm east of Leota, in 1960, until the farm was totally destroyed by an F5 tornado on June 16, 1992. The lives of seven were spared. Bud and I then moved down the hill closer to Leota, still on our land where we built our home. I helped on the farm yet, worked at Mouw’s Hatchery and for nearly nine years was a CNA at Edgebrook Care Center. I also gave piano lessons to area students. I played organ at Ebenezer for nearly fifty years and a new Allen organ at Ebenezer was installed in 1989. Music was a big part of my life and I enjoyed playing for congregational singing the most. I am a member of Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church. I liked playing my Piano and organ, reading, watching the Minnesota Twins and other sports and have a special gift of sending cards. Bud and I did make some nice trips to Lynden, WA; Albuquerque, NM; Marathon, FL; and Gull Lake at Tenstrike, MN and Grand Rapids, MI.

   I am survived by my four daughters, Joyce (Steven) Pomp, Tenstrike, MN; Connie (Witzel) Ron DeBoer, Hawarden, IA; Sharon (David) Kuik, Leota; and Beth Van Essen, Sioux Falls, SD; twelve grandchildren; twenty two great-grandchildren; a brother, John (Sherry) Kooiker, Hull, IA; two sisters, Cynthia Lundberg, Sioux Falls, SD; and Louisa De Boer, Leota; three sisters-in-law, Gertrude Kooiker, Luverne; Beverly Kooiker, Caledonia, MI; and Harriet (John) Vander Haar, Edgerton; a brother-in-law, Marvin Rozeboom, Leota; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

   I was preceded in death by my parents; husband, Bud on November 12, 2010; son-in-law, Greg Witzel in 2005; three brothers, Jake, Herman and Willis Kooiker; a brother-in-law, Don De Boer; and several other relatives.

                                                             Written by Clara Rozeboom

   Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7:30 pm Tuesday at the Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota. Burial will be at 10 am Wednesday at the Leota Community Cemetery. Memorial service will be 11 am Wednesday at Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church, in Leota, officiated by Pastor Steve Pomp.

   The Leota Burial Association and Dingmann Funeral Home are in charge of arrangements.

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