Cornelius Van Kooten
Cornelius Van Kooten
Cornelius Van Kooten
November 27, 1927 – October 1, 2015
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 87
Cornelius John “Cornie” Van Kooten, 87, of Oskaloosa, was surrounded by his family when he went to be with the Lord, on Thursday, October 1, 2015, while being cared for at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. Cornelius was born November 27, 1927, in Lynnville, Iowa, the son of Peter and Jennie Swank Van Kooten.
Early in life Cornie made his Profession of Faith at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. Following 8th grade Cornie did not return to school so that he could help on the family farm. Later in life he studied and earned his G.E.D.
On January 5, 1950, he was united in marriage to Mary Ann Nunnikhoven at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa.
Cornie farmed nearly all of his working life, he started out in the Cedar and Otley areas. In 1961, they moved to a farm east of Oskaloosa. In 1977 they moved into Oskaloosa and Cornie continued to farm until 1985. He worked for two years at Pella Corporation. In 1990, he went to work at Family Medical Center in Oskaloosa doing building maintenance, he retired from there in 2005.
Cornie was a lifelong, active member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, where he had served on the church council.
He enjoyed raising cattle, coon hunting, making purple martin bird houses, and tending to his flower gardens. He also enjoyed many trips to Canada fishing with his family and friends.
Cornie’s family was very important to him, he delighted in spending time with all of them, and he always made it a point to attend and support the activities they were involved in at school and in the community.
Cornie’s Faith in Jesus Christ was the center of his life, he held close to his Bible and would read from it daily. He enjoyed being in the outdoors because it was God’s creation. His faith in Jesus Christ grew stronger as he battled cancer for the past 14 years, he continued to attend church and be active in the community. He did not fear cancer or what it may do to him as he was confident in the Lord’s Promise.
His family includes his wife of over 65 years, Mary Ann Van Kooten of Oskaloosa; a daughter, Marlene (& Dennis) Allgood of Oskaloosa; three sons: Don Van Kooten, Leon (& Arlys) Van Kooten, and Loren (& JoDee) Van Kooten, all of Oskaloosa; ten grandchildren: Rhonda (& Jim) Reed, Holly Van Kooten, Jared Van Kooten, Renee Van Kooten, Heather (& Jeremy) Ritzema, Kandi Van Kooten, April Van Kooten, Kourtni (& Tyler) Shelquist, Kelsey Van Kooten, and Kaleigh Van Kooten; seven great grandchildren: Marissa Reed, Ethan Reed, Noelle Ritzema, Levi Ritzema, Micah Ritzema, Jace Shelquist and Grady Shelquist; three sisters: Marie DeBoef of New Sharon, Hermina (& William) Stursma of Pella, and Darlene (& Elmer) Kloosterman of Pella; three brothers: Henry Van Kooten of Winterset, Kenneth (& Marlene) Van Kooten of Rose Hill, and Elvin (& Linda) Van Kooten of Iowa Falls; Mary Ann’s siblings: Abe Nunnikhoven of Oskaloosa, Wilma Van Weelden of Oskaloosa, and Francis (& Marvin) Walraven of Oskaloosa; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his father & mother in law, Case & Grace Nunnikhoven; two sisters in law: Sherryl Van Kooten and Harriett Nunnikhoven; and four brothers-in-law: Earl DeBoef, Sam Boender, Gerald Nieuwsma, and Bill Van Weelden.
Funeral services will be held Monday, October 5, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. in the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Dale Visser officiaitng.
A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 Monday morning in the basement of the church.
Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin Sunday after 11 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 2-4 Sunday afternoon to greet friends and relatives.
Memorials may be made to Care Initiatives Hospice of Albia OR MHP Hospice Serenity House.
