Gilbert Cornelius Hoogendoorn

ROCK VALLEY, IOWA ~ Gilbert Cornelius Hoogendoorn, 92, of Rock Valley, passed away on Sunday, June 22, 2025, at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley.

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 26, 2025, at the Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Rock Valley with Rev. J.J. Witvoet officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. The service will be audio recorded and uploaded to Gilbert’s obituary page following the services. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that memorials be directed to the Rock Valley Netherlands Reformed School Foundation.

Gilbert Cornelius Hoogendoorn was born to Peter and Kate (Van Ginkel) Hoogendoorn on January 9, 1933, at Steen, Minnesota. In 1934, he moved with his family to a farm near Doon, Iowa, and in 1944, they moved to a farm place by Rock Valley, Iowa. It was there that Gilbert graduated from the 8th grade in 1946 from a country school. In 1947, the Hoogendoorn family bought and moved to a farm near Inwood, Iowa.

Gilbert married Angeline Bakker on March 31, 1953. He was drafted into the United States Army and left for Basic Training in April of 1953. In August of 1953, he was sent to the Korean Conflict where he was stationed in the artillery office of the Seventh Infantry Division until February of 1955 when he was given an honorable discharge.

In March of 1956, Gilbert and Angeline moved to a farm by Inwood, where they lived for 42 years. They crop farmed and fed beef cattle while raising their family of seven children. In 1998, they retired to a home they built in Rock Valley and in 2024, they took up residence in Whispering Heights.

Gilbert was a life-long member of the Netherlands Reformed Church, where he served as an Elder for 28 years (1977-2005). He also served on the NRCS School Board.

Survivors include his wife, Angeline of 72 years; seven children, Gail (Gene) Van Voorst, Cindy (Russell) Derksen, Gene (Hilda) Hoogendoorn, Perry (Tami) Hoogendoorn, David (Sandra) Hoogendoorn, Kent (Kristi) Hoogendoorn, and Kevin (Janelle) Hoogendoorn; 37 grandchildren; 91 great-grandchildren; sisters, Gert Kelderman and Evelyn Fluit; brother, Peter (Connie) Hoogendoorn; and sister-in-law, Leola Bakker.

Gilbert was preceded in death by his parents and parents-in-law; grandchildren, Katie Hoogendoorn and Nathan Van Voorst; great-grandson, Connor Rozeboom; brother, Marlin Hoogendoorn; brothers-in-law, Art Kelderman and John Fluit; and the Bakker in-laws.