Bernice “Cookie” Van Ekeren
Delta. Bernice E. “Cookie” Van Ekeren, 94, of Sigourney and formerly of Delta, died Saturday, March 3, 2012, at the Sigourney Care Center in Sigourney. She was born March 2, 1918. She was united in marriage to Gerritt Van Ekeren and he died during military service in World War II. Cookie lived and worked on her farm outside of Delta with her longtime companion, Henry “Bud” Gordon until his death in 2006. She enjoyed dancing, playing cards and loved her cats.
She is survived by her long time friend and care giver: Mary (Al) McCammant of Keswick; her close friends: Calvin (Teddie) Knowler of Sigourney, Colin (Patricia) Gregan of Scottsdale, Arizona, Linda (Pete) Garlinghouse of Waterloo, Iowa, Patrick (Sue) Gregan of Rock Island, Illinois, Mona Fowler of Sigourney, Mike Gregan of Ames, Iowa, Doug (Jean) Gregan of Terrebonne, Oregon, Zita (Jim) Lambert of Newton, Iowa and Kevin (Jackie) Gregan of Houston, Texas.
Cookie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband: Gerritt Van Ekeren; her longtime companion: Henry “Bud” Gordon; and a niece: Luella Van Ekeren.
Graveside services will be held Friday, March 9, 2012, at 2 p.m. in Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa with Pastor Alvern Boetsma officiating. Those wishing to attend the graveside service may meet at the Bates Funeral Chapel on Friday by 1:45 p.m. when a procession will form to go to the cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday from 1 — 1:45 p.m. at the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa. Memorials may be made to the Sigourney Care Center of Sigo
