John Schuurman

     John Schuurman age 96 of Rock Rapids, IA died Wednesday, November 22, 2017 at Rock Rapids Health Centre in Rock Rapids, IA.             Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 28th at First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids, IA with Rev. Dan Haggar officiating. Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery at Rock Rapids, IA.        Visitation will be Tuesday morning at the church one hour prior to the service, November 28th with the family present at the First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids.          John Schuurman was born May 12, 1921, at Doon, IA the son of John and Henrietta (Vander Vliet) Schuurman. John grew up at Doon, IA where he attended school. On April 8, 1943 he was united in marriage to Grace Palsrok. They were married for 72 years. Grace passed on May 3, 2015. To this union a daughter, Hermina, was born. The couple farmed by Alvord, Doon and Rock Rapids. There are many cherished memories of farm life by Hermina and his granddaughters. In January of 1986 the couple retired and moved to Rock Rapids. John helped out with a couple of farmers with the planting season and harvest. Farming was his life. He was always ready to help anyone he could. He had a very loving heart. He loved and enjoyed his granddaughters and great grandchildren. He will be greatly missed. He and Grace moved into the Rock Rapids Health Centre in March of 2012. John was very fond of his 1983 red pickup. John was also known for eating and sharing his hard candy. John was a member of the First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids, IA.          He is survived by his daughter, Hermina (Don) Borman, Sioux Center, IA; granddaughters, Denise (Steve) Boer of Sioux Center, IA and Stacy (Steve) Spaans of Rock Valley, IA; great-grandchildren, Amanda (Caleb) Van Der Brink and Abigail Boer all of Sioux Center; Makinsy (Kyle) Donlin of Ireton, IA; and Jordan Brantsen of Rock Valley, IA; sister-in-law, Muriel Palsrok of Sibley, IA; nieces, nephews and other extended family members.               John was preceded in death by his wife, Grace; sisters, Marie Brouwer, Tillie Bobbledyk, Gertrude Ver Beek, Effie Pap, Jennie Mellema and Henrietta DeBruin and brother, Arnold Schuurman.