Edwin D. Kats

ROCK VALLEY, IOWA ~ Edwin D. Kats, 85, of Rock Valley, died Saturday, October 29, 2022, at Community Memorial Health Center in Hartley, Iowa.

   Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 3, 2022, at Trinity Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley, Iowa with Rev. Henry Lengkeek and Rev. Dan De Groot officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation with the family present, will be Wednesday, November 2, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Trinity Christian Reformed Church. The funeral service will be live streamed on the church website, trinitycrc.com.

   The Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

   The Kats family prefers memorials be directed to Rock Valley Christian School or Western Christian High School in Hull.

   Edwin Dale Kats was born on October 28, 1937 in Long Island, Kansas to Henry and Christina (Vander Plas) Kats. In 1938 the family moved from Kansas to Rock Valley, Iowa. Ed graduated from Rock Valley Christian School in 1951 and from Western Christian High School in 1955.

   Ed was always a hard worker. In the summers before graduating from school, Ed worked for Charlie Kooima, putting up government grain bins. Money was tight, and all of his earnings went to help support his family. After graduating, Ed worked for Kooima Manufacturing in Rock Valley. In 1956 he started a business, Kats Machine, with his brother Harley, but also continued to work for Kooima’s until the new business could sustain two families. Later, Ed and Harley bought the IH Implement dealership, and their business became “Kats Inc.”

   On June 30, 1959, Ed married Sharon Lee Sandbulte in Carmel, Iowa. They made their home in Rock Valley, and to this union seven children were born. Sharon passed away on March 27, 1975.

   The Lord heard Ed’s prayers in this time of great trial, and provided for his needs by sending to him another godly woman to be his wife. On January 30, 1976, Ed married Elaine (Smit) Kooiman of Denver, Colorado, and her four sons became his very own. Together they made a home for their 11 children in Rock Valley, and to this union one daughter was born.

   Ed and Harley continued to own and operate Kats Inc., until 1991. In 1992 Ed and his son Don started a new business together, Kats Implement, 4 miles west of Rock Valley. Ed retired in 2016.

   Ed enjoyed being outside, doing farm work. He and Elaine enjoyed living on their acreage in the country, and Ed especially liked caring for his dogs and horses, and cutting wood. Elaine passed away on February 22, 2016.

   Ed was a charter member of Trinity Christian Reformed Church, and served as a deacon there. He loved the Lord profoundly, and even in his final days, when names and memories faded from his mind, he never forgot his Savior, Jesus Christ; and the words of the Lord’s Prayer and several familiar old hymns were right there on his lips.

   Ed passed away on Saturday, October 29, 2022. He is survived by eleven children: Loren (Lora) Kooiman of Doon, IA, Darryl (Martha) Kooiman of Lynden, WA, Don (Julie) Kats of Rock Valley, IA, Roberta (Gaylan) Attema of Zeeland, MI, Ken (Judy) Kooiman of Sanborn, IA, Daryl (Ila) Kats of Rock Valley, IA, Arlan (Laurie) Kooiman of Hospers, IA, Connie (Jeff) Ten Napel of Sibley, IA, Sheila (Brett) Kreykes of Rock Valley, IA, Jerry (Sandy) Kats of Escondido, CA, and Kaye (John) Sjaarda of Valley Springs, SD; 46 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren; brothers Gerrit (Esther) Kats and Ken (Hendrene) Kats of Rock Valley, IA, and Alvin (Evie) Kats of Sheldon, IA; sisters Alta Groeneweg and Betty Hoogendoorn of Rock Valley, IA, and Wanda Siebelink of Grandville, MI.

   He was preceded in death by his wife Sharon and his wife Elaine; his parents, Henry and Christina; a daughter, Ellen Flikkema; son-in-law Rod Flikkema; daughter-in-law Tonya Kooiman; brothers John, Paul, Harley, and Larry; a sister, Joanna Groeneweg; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.