Dorothy Van Beek

Rock Valley, Iowa ~ Dorothy Van Beek, 89, of Rock Valley, passed away on Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at the Whispering Heights in Rock Valley.

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 6, 2018 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley with Rev. Matthew Haan officiating. Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery at Rock Valley. Visitation with the family present will be from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday at the First Christian Reformed Church. The Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. The family requests that memorials be directed to the Rock Valley Christian School or the Western Christian High School in Hull.

Dorothy was born on March 6, 1929 at home on a farm near Rock Valley, Iowa, to Bert Van’t Hul and Gertrude (Van Maanen) Van’t Hul. Dorothy and her twin brother, Lawrence, were the oldest of twelve children. Dorothy attended Rock Valley Christian through eighth grade. Dorothy did not have the opportunity to attend high school because she was needed at home to help with the family. Dorothy did proudly get her GED in 1972.

Dorothy married George Van Beek on March 7, 1949 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley, Iowa. They lived and farmed in rural Inwood, Iowa, where they raised five children. Her siblings spent many holidays at the farm. Dorothy’s home was always clean and welcoming.

Dorothy enjoyed singing with her sisters. They had a women’s quartet that sang together at many weddings and funerals. She also enjoyed the time she spent working in transportation at Hope Haven. She loved getting to know the clients that she transported. Dorothy enjoyed being a grandmother and made a special blanket for each of her 17 grandchildren. The granddaughters have fond memories of all of Grandma’s fancy jewelry. The granddaughters are all wearing her jewelry at her funeral in loving memory of Grandma. Dorothy was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church all her life. Dorothy went to live in Four Seasons in January of 2014. She found many dear friends while living there. She spent many hours at the puzzle table. Dorothy went to live at Whispering Heights in July of this year. Dorothy was cared for with love by the wonderful staff until she went to her eternal home on October 2, 2018, in the arms of her loving family.

Left to cherish her with our memories are her five children, Linda (Dr. Ed) Dykstra of Iowa City, Iowa, Vern (Ellen) Van Beek of Inwood, Iowa, Wanda Vos of Rock Valley, Ken Van Beek of Inwood, Iowa and Nancy (Roger) Faber of Park Hill, Oklahoma; 17 grandchildren; and 30 great- grandchildren; siblings, Harriet Vande Kamp, Geraldine Vande Vegte, Harlan (Mary) Van’t Hul, Orville (Arlene) Van’t Hul, Joyce (Fred) Smit, Joanne (Rod) De Weerd; and in-laws, Louis Altena, Carol Van’t Hul and Ardis (Herb) Dykstra.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, George Van Beek on December 29, 2014; her twin brother, Lawrence and his wife Maxine Van’t Hul; sister, Albertha Altena; brother, Junior Van’t Hul; two sisters who died in childhood; in-laws, Norman Vande Vegte and Marv Vande Kamp; grandson-in-law, Tony Lindgren; and great-granddaughter, Ella Bulkeley.

Dorothy’s family would like to invite everyone for a time of food and fellowship at the church following the committal service.

Visitation with the family

Friday October 5, 2018 , 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM at Rock Valley First Christian Reformed Church

Funeral Service

Saturday October 6, 2018 , 10:30 AM at Rock Valley First Christian Reformed Church