Margaret G. Ver Beek

Rock Rapids, Iowa Margaret Ver Beek, age 82 of Rock Rapids died Thursday, May 22, 2014, at the Rock Rapids Health Centre in Rock Rapids, IA. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 27th at the Forster Community Center in Rock Rapids, IA. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids. Visitation will be Monday, May 26th from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., with family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. Memorials may be directed to the Alzheimers Association and Lyon County Hospice. Margaret Gertrude Ver Beek was born February 20, 1932 in Platte, South Dakota, the daughter of August and Itje (VanderPloeg) Braaksma. She was the youngest of five children. Her mother passed away when she was 4 years old. After a few years, she moved with her father to Portland, OR, and later returned to Sibley, IA and lived with her brother, George and his wife, Johanna. In her teens she made her choice to serve the Lord and kept true to that choice all her life. She graduated from Sibley High School in 1950. She worked as a secretary for the Superintendent of Sibley Schools, until she was united in marriage to John Ver Beek on January 26, 1956. To this union, two children were born, Kay Lynn and Timothy Alan. John and Margaret farmed southwest of Rock Rapids until moving to their home in town in December of 1995. Margaret enjoyed cross stitching, crossword puzzles, going to garage sales, her flower garden, playing her organ, traveling, her grandkids and visiting her many friends and relatives. In the early stages of her Alzheimers, she was able to stay in her home with Johns care. On November 11, 2011 Margaret began receiving nursing home care and resided there until her death this past Thursday, May 22, 2014, where she died at the age of 82. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, John Ver Beek; her daughter, Kay (husband Tom) Dye; her son Tim (wife Becky) Ver Beek, all of Rock Rapids, IA; four grandchildren, Amber (husband Seth) Johnson, Kendra Ver Beek, Derek Ver Beek (fianc Kelsey Krieg) and Dalton Ver Beek; one great-grandson, Tyce Johnson; one step-great-granddaughter, Tenley; three sisters-in-law, Annie Braaksma of Sibley, IA, Edna Braaksma of Sheldon, IA and Elaine (husband Ken) Meyer of Cottonwood, MN; brother-in-law, Albert John Kracht of Steen, MN; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, August and Itje Braaksma; a sister, Lucy Steen; three brothers, Jake, George and Gerard Braaksma; two sisters-in-law, Anna Mae Kracht and Johanna Braaksma; and a brother-in-law, John Steen.