Kenneth L. Bolkema, age 60, of Sheldon, Iowa passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at Sanford Sheldon Medical Center in Sheldon, Iowa.
His service will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday, March 16, 2013 at the First Reformed Church in Sheldon, Iowa with Rev. David Brower ~ officiating. Burial will be in the East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon, Iowa, with Military Graveside Services by the American Legion McGlothlen-Cowie Post #145 of Sheldon.
Visitation will be Friday, March 15, 2013 after 2:00 P.M. with the family present from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.
Online memorial condolences may be sent to: vanderploegfunerals.com
Arrangements under the care of Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Sheldon, Iowa.
Kenneth Lee Bolkema, the son of Koos and Bertha (Beuzekom) Bolkema was born August 11, 1952 in Hull, Iowa. Ken was baptized at the First Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon. He grew-up and received his education at the Sheldon Christian School, graduating from Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa in 1970; he then graduated from Northwest Iowa Community College in 1972 from the Auto Mechanic program. Ken was drafted into the United States Army during Vietnam Conflict and was Honorably Discharge in 1974; he also served in the Army National Guard in Sheldon for a total of 28 years. On July 6, 1973, he was united in marriage to Janice Lode in the First Reformed Church in Sheldon, Iowa and the couple made their home in Sheldon, Iowa. Ken had worked at several jobs in his lifetime, he had worked for K & O, the Big-4, O’Brien County Implement and for the last 20 years he has worked at Rosenboom Machine and Tool in Sheldon as a truck driver retiring due to ill health. Ken passed away on Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at the Sanford Sheldon Medical Center in Sheldon reaching the age of 60 years, 7 months and 1 day.
He was a member of First Reformed Church of Sheldon. He enjoyed fishing, hunting camping, riding his motorcycle and especially spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Ken leaves to cherish his memory is his wife of 39 years, Jan; their two children and their spouses, Christina and Jason Engel of Cedar Falls, IA and Kevin and Nikki Bolkema of Paullina, IA; six grandchildren, Chelsey, Nicholas and Jayden Engel, Brady, Dyllyn and Kody Bolkema; a great granddaughter, Paisley Rae; two sisters, Beverly and Calvin Heemstra of Orange City, IA and Helen and James Bilsland of Sioux City, IA; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
