Fred Boer, age 85 of Sanborn, IA passed away at Spirit Lake, Iowa on Monday, April 9, 2012.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, April 13th at 10:30 a.m. at the Cornerstone United Reformed Church in Sanborn.
Rev. Daniel Donovan will be officiating. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 12th at the church with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening. Burial will be at West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City, IA.
Our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Frederick Allen Boer was born to Jacob and Ethel Holtrop Boer on January 8, 1927 at Doon, IA. The Lord called him home to glory on April 9, 2012 while he was doing what he loved, fishing.
He received his elementary education at country school near Doon, IA and at the Doon Christian School. At age 17, he enlisted in the Navy and served in Guam and the South Pacific until the end of World War II. After returning from military service, he began farming near Sheldon, IA.
On May 6, 1949 he was united in marriage with Gerry Van Bruggen. God blessed this union with seven children, 22 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and a great-great grandchild. This family was led through the joys of life, as well as the difficult times by his unwavering faith in his Savior.
He delighted in spending time with family and friends, especially when it involved being outdoors in God’s beautiful creation hunting or fishing.
Nothing pleased him more than taking care of his family and his wisdom and counsel were always appreciated. He continued to work in his disc sharpening business until his death, when not fishing or helping his family.
He was a former elder in the Sanborn Christian Reformed church and was an active member of the Cornerstone United Reformed Church in Sanborn, IA.
Looking forward to a blessed reunion in glory are his wife, Gerry; four sons, Gary, and wife Lou Ann, Sioux Falls, SD; Jeff, and wife Jeannie, Hialeah, FL; Dave, and wife Cheryl, Sioux Falls, SD; Mike, and wife Sherry, Long Beach, CA; and two daughters, Judy Van Engen, and husband Allen, Inwood, IA and Sue Koele, and husband Terry, Littleton, CO; six brothers, Henry, and wife Corina; Jeen, and wife Joan; Ed, and wife Fran; Harlan, and wife Joan; Dale, and wife Karen, and Roger; three sisters, Myrtle Bootsma; Alvina Hiemstra; and Phyllis Steensma, and husband Andy; twenty-two grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, as well as a host of nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in being called to glory were his parents, Jacob and Ethel; his brother-in-law Ralph Bootsma; his brother-in-law Gary Hiemstra; a son, Mark; and a grandson, Kirk Van Engen.
