Wilferd “Wow” L. Kooiker, age 90, of Sheldon, Iowa passed away on Tuesday, November 17, 2020 at his home in Sheldon, Iowa.
His services will be at 9:30 A.M. on Saturday, November 21, 2020 at the Sheldon United Methodist Church with Rev Kevin Gingerich officiating.
Private Family Burial will be in the Sheridan Township Cemetery in Boyden, Iowa.
There will be No Visitation.
The service will be live-streamed on the Sheldon United Methodist website at https://www.facebook.com/sheldonumc/
Masks and Social Distancing are required
Arrangements are under the care of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home; Sheldon, Iowa.
Online condolences may be sent to www.vanderploegfunerals.com.
Wilferd (Wow) L. Kooiker was born November 26, 1929, on a farm near Boyden, Iowa to Nick and Lena (Salie) Kooiker. He met his future wife Dorothy Bothof, whom he fondly called Dorts, at the roller-skating rink in Sheldon where she picked him for Lady’s Choice. He and Dorothy were married January 1, 1951, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua Iowa. They had 3 children and eventually moved to the family farm near Boyden where they enjoyed many years of working side by side.
When Wow retired from farming, he was often seen buzzing around town on his scooter delivering flowers for Dorothy’s flower shop. His grandchildren loved delivering flowers with him in his Jeep. He often took them out in the country to give those city kids a chance to drive long before they were legal.
His grandchildren adored him and loved singing his silly songs that stick in their memory like a pebble in their shoe. His great-grandchildren also adore Great Grandpa Wow who would play Ring Around the Rosie, falling down with them at 85 and of course, sing silly songs.
At 89, Wow suffered a brain hemorrhage which left him unable to walk or feed himself. With determination and the help and care of staff at Sanford Hospital and Rehab Wow walked out and returned to his home one hundred days later. Answered prayers and miracles! Wow loved God and his family. He lived life with joy so deep it bubbled out to touch all who happened by. His outgoing friendly spirit gave him friends from newborn to one hundred. He truly cared about people and considered himself blessed to be touched by so many lives. His mantra was “I am so blessed.” Wow was an active member of his church and Kiwanis. He volunteered at the nursing home where his wife had been and helped all who asked. He was still delivering Meals on Wheels last month! He died at home with family at his side.
The last two years Wow was grateful to have Sherry VanderPol to provide care and friendship for each other.
Grateful to have shared his life are his children Rodney and son Brandon Kooiker; Curtis (Susanne) and their children Elizabeth (Sherwin) Newton and Nick (Mandy) Kooiker; and Cindi (Tim) Klein and their sons Josh (Iesha) Toft, Chad Klein and Sam (Alicia) Klein; 13 great grandchildren, his sister Shirley Kaminga, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends too numerous to count.
Wow was preceded in death by his parents Nick and Lena, his beloved wife of 64 years Dorothy, brothers John Kooiker, Vernon Kooiker and sister Marjorie (Kooiker) VanDyke.
