Gerrit John Van Holland Jr.

Lester, Iowa 

     Gerrit Van Holland Jr., age 77, of Lester, Iowa, died Tuesday, August 29, 2023, at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

     A private funeral service for family will be Thursday, August 31st at the Bethel Reformed Church in Lester, with Pastor Steve Meester officiating. 

     Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Lester, with military honors by the Edward Bouwman American Legion Post No. 683.

     Gerrit John Van Holland Jr. was born on December 26, 1945, in Rock Rapids, IA, the son of Gerrit Sr. and Jennie (Lokhorst) Van Holland.  He grew up in the Lester, Iowa area and later graduated from West Lyon South High School.

     Gerrit served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War from November of 1965 to August of 1967, when he was honorably discharged with the rank of Spec 4.

     He was a lifelong farmer, milking cows and worked for Siouxland Energy.

     Gerrit was a member of the Bethel Reformed Church in Lester, the Edward Bouwman American Legion Post No. 683 of Lester, and the Van Anne-Fields VFW Post No. 6960.

     His hobbies included riding motorcycles, horseback riding, and collecting coins.  Gerrit was stubborn as a mule about certain things but on the other hand had a heart of gold and would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it.

     Left to cherish his memory are his siblings, Nelva (Robert) Ageson of Lester, IA, and Albert (Betty) Van Holland of Rock Rapids, IA; sister-in-law, Rebecca (Jeff) Ives of Rolfe, IA; many nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, John, and Jennie Van Holland; brother, Edwin Van Holland; and niece, Jackie Van Holland.