Mr. John Van Surksum, age 87, of Omaha, Nebraska, formerly of rural Hospers, passed away on Thursday, December 4, 2014, at the Brookestone Village in Omaha.
There will be a funeral service on Wednesday, December 10, at 10:30am, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Hospers. The Rev. Duane Tinklenberg will officiate. Interment will follow at the Hospers Cemetery. Visitation will be after 6:00pm on Tuesday, with the family present from 6:00pm to 8:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Hospers.
John William was born on March 29, 1927, in rural Hospers, the son of Gerrit and Agnes (Kreykes) Van Surksum. He was raised at Hospers and graduated from Western Christian High School in Hull. He then served in the United States Army during World War II.
On March 11, 1948, he married La Vonne Ruth Van de Berg in Hospers. They made their home on two of the family farms near Hospers, until they retired into Hospers. In 1998, they moved to Fieldcrest Assisted Living in Sheldon. In August of 2008, they moved to Silverridge Assisted Living in Gretna, Nebraska, and then in 2012, they transferred to Brookestone Village, to be closer to their children. La Vonne passed away on March 29, 2014, in Omaha, after more than 66 years of marriage.
John was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Hospers, where he served as a deacon on the consistory. He loved the life of being a farmer, watching his crops grow and milking his dairy cattle. He and La Vonne travelled extensively throughout the United States in the early years of their retirement.
Survivors include his four children and their spouses, Terry and Mary Jean Van Surksum, of Omaha; Roger and Mary Ann Van Surksum, of Pensacola, Florida; Shari and Steven Slater, of Papillion, Nebraska; and Gary and Lynn Van Surksum, of Gardner, Kansas; eleven grandchildren, Jonathan Van Surksum; Christopher Van Surksum, and his wife, Kelly; Scott Van Surksum; Jason Van Surksum, and his wife, Kara; Kari, and her husband, Derk Hair; Heather, and her husband, Farid Torabi; Christopher Slater, and his wife, Tacy; Jacqui, and her husband, Dave Lawrence; Brad Waltrip; Krystal Van Surksum; and Chase Van Surksum; fourteen great-grandchildren; a brother and his wife, Bill and Marge Van Surksum; two sisters and their husbands, Wilma and Marv Vink and Ella and Mart Hortjus; a brother-in-law, The Rev. Richard Venema; and two sisters-in-law, Lois Van de Berg and Elizabeth Van de Berg.
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Carrie Venema, an infant brother, William John Van Surksum; and seven brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and their spouses, Megdalene and James Van Berkum, Harold Cyril Van de Berg, Angeline and Pete Zwagerman, Helen and Clifford Monson, Harriet and Ted Van Zandbergen, Harold Van de Berg, and Kenneth Van de Berg.
Memorials may be directed to the First Christian Reformed Church in Hospers and Deaf Missions in Council Bluffs.
