Nancy Kooima

Rock Valley, IA: Nancy Kooima, 103, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Saturday, June 26, 2021, at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley. Funeral services will be held Thursday, July 1, at 10:30 AM at First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley with Rev. Matthew Haan officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Wednesday, June 30, from 5:30-7:30 PM at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley.

Nancy Kooima, daughter of William and Mary (Wielenga) Van Roekel, was born January 24, 1918, at Steen, Minnesota. Nancy married Andrew Vander Schaaf in 1936. Andrew died in 1952. Eleven years later, on June 26, 1963, Nancy was united in marriage with Gerrit Kooima. Upon her marriage to Gerrit, Nancy became a mother to 6 children. She raised Gawin and Brian Kooima from childhood. Nancy loved Gerrit’s family and accepted them as her own and the family loved her back, accepting Nancy as their own. Gerrit died September 18, 1998.

In addition to being a homemaker, Nancy worked as a nurse’s aide in Sioux Center for 10 years and in Rock Valley for 2 years. She moved to Whispering Heights in Rock Valley in 2015. Nancy always looked forward to time spent with her family and she also enjoyed visiting and playing games with Lois Postma while she lived at Whispering Heights.

Nancy is survived by 4 sons, Bob (Kit) Kooima of Rock Valley, Jim (Margene) Kooima of Rock Valley, Gawin (Wanda) Kooima of Sioux Center, and Brian Kooima of Rock Valley; daughter, Faye (Clarence) Vande Stouwe of Apple Valley, California; son-in-law, Henry (Irene) Ter Wee of Larchwood, Iowa; 24 grandchildren; 69 great-grandchildren; 37 great-great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Andrew Vander Schaaf; parents, William and Mary Van Roekel; husband Gerrit Kooima; daughter, Minerva Ter Wee; daughter-in-law, Kris Kooima; 2 grandchildren, Joni Saunders and Dan Kooima; 3 grandsons-in-law, Jim Schafer, Evan “Chic” Van Ginkel, and Don Saunders; great-great-grandson, Jesse Saunders; great-grandson-in-law, Chris Whiteker; 4 brothers, Abe (Josie) Van Roekel, Louie (Betty) Van Roekel, Marion (Jean) Van Roekel, and Wilbur Van Roekel; sister, Sadie (Harry) Hoekstra; and all of Gerrit’s siblings.