Jeanette Cornelia Van Beek

Rock Valley, IA: Jeanette Cornelia Van Beek, 90, of Rock Valley, Iowa, passed away Saturday, August 1, 2026, at Fellowship Village in Inwood, Iowa with her family by her side. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, August 5, at 11:00 AM at Rock Valley First Reformed Church with Rev. Dr. Cliff Hoekstra officiating. The service will be livestreamed at https://www.rvfrc.org/. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation with the family present will be held prior to the service from 9:30-10:30 AM at First Reformed Church.

   Jeanette Cornelia Van Beek was born to Gilbert and Nellie (Van Egdom) Vande Stroet on January 9, 1936, on a farm near Parker, South Dakota. She grew up on a farm near Fairview, South Dakota. She met Gerard Van Beek at church in Fairview, and they were married on June 29, 1955, at First Reformed Church in Rock Valley, Iowa. They raised six children on a farm near Hudson, South Dakota, until moving to Rock Valley in 1974 where they lived in “the big grey house north of the swimming pool.” Jeanette and Gerard loved a good road trip. They traveled the country to see their kids, friends and relatives and later loved the ease of bus trips and cruises.

   Jeanette loved music. She played piano, organ and accordion flawlessly, by ear, and she dabbled with the guitar, harmonica and squeeze box. Her record player got a workout. She could hear a country song on the radio and then play it on the piano, singing along every time. As a teenager she played accordion on a Saturday morning radio show while accompanied by her mom on the piano.

   After getting six children through high school she returned to school herself and obtained her GED in 1985. She drove school bus for Area 4 for over 20 years. Jeanette had the cleanest bus. She sent hundreds of handmade greeting cards every year, NEVER missing a birthday or anniversary for her family and friends.

   Jeanette is survived by her husband of 71 years, Gerard; daughter, Nelinda Rhode; sons, Arlo (Carla) Van Beek, Gilmar (Nancy) Van Beek, Merwin (Sharla) Van Beek; daughter, Janae (Tony) Rau; 26 incredibly smart grandchildren; 37 highly talented, great grandchildren; and 4 unbelievably cute, great-great grandchildren.

   She was preceded in death by a daughter, Natalie; son-in-law, Jon; parents, Gilbert and Nellie; siblings, Evelyn, Bernice, Peter and Rick; and her best friend, Donna.