Arlyn Dale Boersma

Rock Valley, IA: Arlyn Dale Boersma, 76, of Rock Valley, Iowa, passed away Saturday, November 25, 2023, at Avera McKennan Hospital of Sioux Falls, South Dakota after spending almost two months there. A funeral service will be held Saturday, December 2, at 10:00 AM at the First Reformed Church of Rock Valley with Rev. Cliff Hoekstra officiating. Burial with military rites will follow at Hillside Cemetery of Doon, Iowa. Lunch will follow the burial at the First Reformed Church. Visitation will be held Friday, December 1, at Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley from 2:00-7:00 PM with the family present to greet friends from 5:00-7:00 PM.

   In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be directed to Midwest Honor Flight (https://www.midwesthonorflight.org/donate.html). Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley is assisting the family with arrangements.

   Arlyn Dale Boersma was born in Sioux City, Iowa to Virgina Fields and then adopted by Ted and Coba (Van Sloten) Boersma of Doon, Iowa where he lived until he married Shirley Huenink on February 18, 1966. He then enlisted in the Army National Guard at Le Mars, Iowa, and was called to serve in Vietnam where he was exposed to Agent Orange, and he battled exposure symptoms the rest of his life. Arlyn earned a Purple Heart for being wounded in combat there.

   When he returned home from duty, he farmed with his father-in-law and later moved to the family farm of his father near Doon. Arlyn farmed there along with doing custom work and building and remodeling homes for 40 plus years. Arlyn and Shirley then moved to Rock Valley, Iowa and built a home. Arlyn then worked as the head of maintenance in Boyden, Iowa at SIG International Iowa Inc and in Hospers, Iowa at Premium Iowa Pork. He enjoyed working with his bosses from Japan and Taiwan. Later he worked at Town and Country Implement in Rock Valley.

   When Arlyn fully retired, he took to his shop in the basement and did woodworking and fixed things. In his spare time he enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and going on bus trips.

   Arlyn had the honor of going on the first Midwest Honor Flight to Washington D.C which left a great impact of remembering his time serving his country with respect and honor. He attended the First Reformed Church of Doon for most of his life. There he served as elder, deacon, youth leader, and was on the classis board several times. When he moved to Rock Valley, he attended the First Reformed Church there.

   Those he leaves behind are his wife of 57 years, Shirley Boersma of Rock Valley; 2 children, Tamara Flier and Troy (Trish) Boersma, both of Rock Valley; 7 grandchildren, Nicole (Cory) Panzica of Norwood, Missouri, Brittany (Kevin) Bittle of Nixa, Missouri, Christopher (Brittany) Flier of Ozark, Missouri, Justice (Krissy) Boersma of Longview, Texas, Blake (Kimberly) Boersma of Lester, Iowa, Makenzie Boersma of Iowa City, Iowa, and Denver Boersma of Rock Valley; 7 great-grandchildren, Hayden, Jaxon, Savannah, Brooklyn, Peyton, Atlas, and Grayson; sisters, Janet Boersma of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Rosie Fields of Davenport, Iowa; siblings-in-law, Barb and Curt Nieuwsma of Herreid, South Dakota, Diane and Bob Smith of Hawarden, Iowa, and Ivan and Teresa Huenink of Ireton, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

   Arlyn was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Coba Boersma; parents-in-law, Wilbur and Henrietta Huenink; birth mother, Virgina Fields; sisters, Alice, Susie, and Cheryl; and niece, Alice.

   Arlyn is now living pain free and with Jesus. He will certainly be missed until he is joined, one by one, with his family in Heaven. Rest in Peace.