Sam Koedam

Rock Valley, IA: Sam Koedam, 87, Rock Valley, passed away Friday, June 19, 2026, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. A funeral service will be held at 1:30pm Wednesday, June 24, 2026 at the Netherlands Reformed Congregation with Reverend J.J. Witvoet officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be held at Porter Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 with family present from 5:30-7:00pm. The Koedam family is under the care of Porter Funeral Home. Condolences for the family may be left at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

   Sam Koedam, son of Sam and Gertie (Zomer) Koedam, was born March 1, 1939, on the family farm east of Corsica, South Dakota. He grew up on the farm and after the eighth grade, he worked several different jobs, including the Corsica Salebarn. On January 27, 1961, he married Reva Van Beek. They were blessed with two children while living for several years on a farm near Hudson, South Dakota. Later they started their own dairy farm near Canton, South Dakota, where they worked side-by-side until they retired. They moved to Rock Valley in 2024. Even while living in Rock Valley, Sam and Reva enjoyed selling watermelons in the fall for the past 14 years. Sam was fondly known as, “The Watermelon Man.” 

   Sam is survived by his wife of 65 years, Reva; children, Tammy (Craig) Fluit of Hull, Iowa and Todd (Judy) Koedam of Canton, South Dakota; 13 grandchildren; and 59 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Sally Koedam and Kathleen Koedam; brother-in-law, Leonard Zoeller; and Reva’s family.

   Sam was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, and five sisters.