Funeral services were held for Robert “Bob” Rozendaal, 84, of Sully on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017, at Sully First Reformed Church. He passed away Sept. 30. Memorial donations may be given in his memory to: Gideons International, Bible League Inter-national, or Sully First Reformed Church.
Robert Lee Rozendaal was born June 2, 1933, to John and Jerena (Willemsen) Rozendaal in Jasper County. Bob attended grade school at Richland #6 in Jasper County and was a 1951 graduate of Sully High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on Mar. 10, 1954, and was in the 5th RCN Co. 5th Infantry, Tank Commander. He received a National Defense Service Medal and a Good Conduct Medal and was honorably discharged on Feb. 8, 1956.
Bob met Helen Rankin on a blind date, and they were married Mar. 28, 1957, in Pella. To this union they were blessed with five children: Dale, Marla, Dennis, Rodney, and Ross. After Helen passed away, Bob married Marilyn Keenen on Mar. 15, 2008.
Throughout Bob’s life, he was a dairy farmer and worked for Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance, Sully Christian School, and Sully First Reformed Church. Bob was a deacon and elder at Sully First Reformed Church.
If you looked in the dictionary for the definition of “neighbor,” it would say Bob Rozendaal. Bob was known as the guy you could call when you needed help. He was always willing to lend a hand.
Those left to cherish his memory are: His wife, Marilyn; his children, Dale (Jana) Rozendaal of Lynnville, Marla (Eugene) Sjaardema of Reasnor, Dennis (Crissie) Rozendaal of Cedar Rapids, Rodney (Dana) Rozendaal of Sully, and Ross (Kara) Rozendaal of Prescott Valley, AZ; 10 grandchildren; and five great- grandchildren. Bob is also survived by his stepchildren: Pam (Dennis) Vogel of Des Moines, Shirley Keenan of West Des Moines, Gary Keenan of Des Moines, Marcia McKelvey of Decorah, and Glen (Missy) Keenan of Des Moines; many stepgrandchildren; and his sisters, Joan Rozendaal and Shirley Schippers.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, Helen; his parents; his brother, James Rozendaal; and his step-daughter, Janet Lynn Keenan.
