Peter Van Ooyen
Peter J. Van Ooyen
Peter J. Van Ooyen
May 14, 1919 – February 23, 2013
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 93
Peter Van Ooyen, 93, of Oskaloosa, died Saturday, February 23, 2013, at the Mahaska Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa.
Peter was born at Pella, the son of Lucas and Effie Brouwer Van Ooyen. He attended schools in Pella, but graduated from the Oskaloosa High School. He served his country during World War II in the U.S. Army from 1941—1945. On September 19, 1951, Pete was united in marriage to Mary Brower in the Ebenezer Reformed Church in Leighton. He was a carpenter by trade and worked at various construction companies in Oskaloosa, including Sparks Construction; Ben DuPree; worked for and was manager of the remodeling department at Hawkeye Lumber Companies nine stores around Iowa; and later Ziegler Construction. In retirement, Pete continued to do odd jobs and siding jobs, and worked part time for Oskaloosa Glass and Millwork.
He loved to hunt and fish, and was an avid bowler for 50 years in Oskaloosa.
His family includes his wife, Mary Van Ooyen of Oskaloosa; a daughter and her husband, Jeanie and John Crowley of Downers Grove, Illinois; two grandchildren: Hannah and Sam Crowley; a brother and his wife, Luke and Helen Van Ooyen of Lebanon, Missouri; and three sisters: Jenny Darland of Indianola, Gertie Kauffman of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, and June and Leonard Chase of Oregon, Illinois.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, John in WW II; and two sisters: Elizabeth Sammon and Eva Schippers.
Visitation will begin at the Bates Funeral Chapel on Wednesday after 12 noon, and the family will be at the funeral chapel Wednesday from 5 – 7 p.m. to greet friends and relatives.
Funeral Service will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with the Reverend Tom Boomershine officiating.
As was his wish, he will be cremated following the funeral ceremony. Military rites given by members of the Oskaloosa American Legion and V.F.W. at the funeral chapel following the funeral.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials may be made to the American Legion or to Mahaska Hospice Serenity House.
