KENNETH BOLKEMA, age 92, of Edgerton, died Thursday, January 4, 2018, at Edgebrook Estates Assisted Living in Edgerton. He was born July 29, 1925 in Sheldon, IA, to John and Winnie (De Boer) Bolkema.  He attended grade school in a country school near Hartley, IA.   His family moved to a farm near Ruthton, MN where he attended grade school and high school.  His family moved back to a farm near Rock Valley, IA where Kenneth helped on the farm.  He was drafted in the U.S. Army at the age of 18.  He served his country during WWII in combat on Luzon in the Philippines Islands; he later was sent to occupy Japan until the end of WWII.

   On February 12, 1947, Ken married Lucy Jacobsma at Rock Valley Christian Reformed Church.  He worked for a farmer near Inwood, IA for two years and also for a farmer near Alvord, IA, for two years.  They rented a farm near Larchwood, IA for nine years.  In 1960 they moved to a farm south of Leota and farmed there for thirty two years, when they moved into Leota in 1992.  In April of 2016 he moved to Edgebrook Estates in Edgerton.

   Kenneth was a member of Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota and was a supervisor of the Leota township board for 32 years.  He enjoyed reading and in his younger years playing horse shoes.

   He is lovingly remembered by his four children, Helen Brouwer, Worthington; Jay (Dorothy) Bolkema, Orange City, IA; Robert (Vonnie) Bolkema, Edgerton; Wanetta (Brent) Feikema, Lismore; twelve grandchildren,  twenty three great grandchildren; two brothers, John (Betty) Bolkema, Hull, IA; Norm (Bess) Bolkema, Chandler, AZ; two sisters-in-law, Nina Bolkema, Sheldon, IA and Elaine Bolkema, Rock Valley, IA.

   He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Lucy in February 2009, two brothers, Marvin and Leroy; two sisters, Lucille Veltkamp and Johanna Van Gelderen.

   Visitation will be from 1:30-3:30 pm Sunday, January 7, 2018 at the Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota.  Burial with full military honors will be at 10am Monday at the Leota Community Cemetery.  Memorial service will be 11:00 am Monday at Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church, in Leota, officiated by pastor Joseph Vanden Akker.

 Service Information