Sybren James Ryken

Sybren James Ryken

Sybren James Ryken
April 9, 1927 – August 19, 2019
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 92
Served With Honor ~ United States Military Veteran

Sybren James Ryken, 92, of Oskaloosa, died Monday, August 19, 2019, at Mahaska Health Partnership, in the presence of his family. He was born April 9, 1927 to Gysbert and Minnie (DeVries) Ryken near Peoria, Iowa.

Sy attended school in Peoria through the eighth grade, and then helped his family on the farm.

In 1945, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and served only a few months until his honorable discharge when the war ended.

On June 11, 1947, he married Mabel Langstraat. To that marriage, 5 children were born – Jerry Allen, Roger Lee, Eugene Keith, Sharon Ann, and Cynthia Ruth. Mabel passed away in 1995, after 47 years of marriage.
On July 26, 1996, he married Dorothy Rempe.

Sy spent several years working on farms, and eventually began delivering feed for J.H. Wake Feed Mill, a job he loved for over 30 years until his retirement. In his early retirement, he loved spending his winters in the warm climate of Arizona where he and Dorothy met, and spent his summers cutting grass at the Edmundson Golf Course. In his later years, he enjoyed playing dominos and Tuesday night auctions, but most of all, he loved the occasions when he could see all his children together at the same time.

Sy is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his children: Jerry (& Jewel) Ryken of Oskaloosa, Iowa, Roger (& Beverly) Ryken of Denver, Colorado, Gene (& Carolyn) Ryken of Conway, Arkansas, Sharon (& Cary) Coop of Belle Plaine, Minnesota, and Cindy (& Bruce) Nolin of Greenbrier, Arkansas; eleven grandchildren; fifteen great grandchildren; his-step children: Jerry (& Kathleen) Rempe, Carol (& Jerry) Hammer, Kenneth Rempe and David (& Jen) Rempe; and several step grandchildren and step great grandchildren.

Sy Ryken was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers and sisters, and his first wife, Mabel.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 23, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa with Pastor Jon Nelson officiating.
Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery near Leighton, Iowa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 22, 2019 in the Bates Funeral Chapel beginning after 2:00 p.m. and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 p.m. Thursday evening to greet friends and relatives.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Central Reformed Church.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Sybren James Ryken please visit the Bates Funeral Chapel Sympathy Store.

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