Doris Van Arkel

Doris Van Arkel

Malcom. Funeral services for Doris Henkle Van Arkel , 85, of Malcom, Iowa, will be held on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. at the Holland-Coble Funeral Home at Montezuma, Iowa. Burial will be at the Jackson Cemetery in Montezuma. Visitation will begin at noon on Friday, September 24, 2010, with the family present from 6 – 8 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army or the Malcom Fire Dept.

Doris R. Van Arkel, 85, passed away at Friendship Manor in Grinnell, Iowa, on September 22, 2010. She was born July 29, 1925, at Searsboro, Iowa, the daughter of Henry and Ruth Traxler Henkle. After graduating from Montezuma High School in 1942, she attended what was then, Iowa State Teachers College and later taught country school in Jackson Township. Doris married James Van Arkel March 10, 1946, at the Montezuma Methodist Church. They started farming that month in the Colfax area. They lived there six years and during that time their first two children were born. They then moved to a farm west of Malcom.

Doris was a devoted wife and mother and was especially supportive of their children in their church and school activities. Later James and Doris sent their four children to Iowa State. Starting in December of 1974, she helped take care of James’ handicapped bother, Howard, in their home four months of each year for over 33 years. She was a member of the Crystal Cathedral Eagles Club for 19 years. The last ten years, she has been a monthly supporter of both the Salvation Army Bed and Bread Club and the Hope Bethel homeless shelter. She was an active member of the Ewart Presbyterian Church for over 50 years. After she became unable to attend church, she enjoyed the Christian worship on Chanel 23. In later years, she enjoyed some volunteer work at the Grinnell Hospital until her health failed.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Craig Van Arkel and grandson Chris Van Arkel. Also, her sisters Mildred Ehret and Eleanor Hicks, and her brother Roger Henkle.

Surviving are her husband James, her two sons: Alan (Kathy) Van Arkel of Plainfield, David (Tracee) Van Arkel of Malcom, and daughter Sandra (Dan) Hibbs of Conrath, Wisconsin, ten grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and a brother, William Henkle of Montezuma.

Source: Holland-Coble Funeral Home