Virginia Van Kooten, 92, of Pella, passed away Nov. 5, 2020. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 9, at Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Interment followed in Oakwood Cemetery, Pella.
Virginia Tana (Kloosterman) Van Kooten was the second daughter of Case and Elizabeth (Van Gilst) Kloosterman. She was born Apr. 21, 1928, in Pella. Virginia began her education at the Black Oak School and later attended Pella Christian School. Virginia was baptized and made profession of faith at Second Christian Reformed Church of Pella.
Apr. 7, 1948, she was united in marriage to Henry R. Van Kooten and to this union six children were born: Judith, Kenneth Allen, Sheryl Ann, Eileen Kay, Marcia Faye, and Verna Lou. Virginia and Henry farmed around the Sully area for 12 years before moving to Pella. For the next 14 years, they continued to farm alongside a dairy operation. In addition to her work on the farm, milking cows, and tending a large garden, Virginia worked at the Dutch Buffet for many years. In 1974, Henry made the decision to quit farming and start a farm tiling and trenching business until he fully retired in 2001. Virginia helped Henry in the tiling business by doing some of the bookkeeping.
In 2006, Henry and Virginia moved to town and relocated to Midtown Apartments. In 2014 when additional assistance was needed for Virginia, they moved to Vriendschap Village. In April 2015, Henry broke his hip, requiring rehabilitation and additional skilled care. The additional need for ongoing daily assistance for both Henry and Virginia necessitated them to move to The Cottages in July 2015. Henry passed away there Jan. 19, 2017. Virginia passed away there Nov. 5, 2020.
At the time of her death, Virginia was a member of Second Christian Reformed Church of Pella where she was a member of the Ladies Aid Society and helped out wherever needed. Virginia was well known for her baking and cooking, especially her pies, buns, and homemade cinnamon rolls. No one ever went away from her house hungry! She also enjoyed doing puzzles, playing games, and reading.
Virginia lived out her faith to her family. Her children often recall their parents’ evening ritual of kneeling by their bedside to pray and their daily reading of the Bible.
Those left to cherish her memory are her five daughters and one son and their families: Judy (Marvin) Van Veldhuizen of Oskaloosa, Ken (Linda) Van Kooten of Temple, TX, Sheryl Hixson of Pella, Eileen Van Kooten-Schmitt of Clive, Marcia (JR) Pearson of Pella, and Verna (Tim) Ver Meer of Pella.
Of her original family of four siblings, Virginia leaves the following sisters and brother and his spouse: Grada De Bruin of Oskaloosa, Pauline Branderhorst of Pella, and Elmer (Darlene) Kloosterman of Pella; and brothers- and sisters-in-law: Cornelia and Charlie Jansen of Grand Rapids, MI, Delia and Johnnie De Jong of Sully, Delmer and Wilma Van Kooten of Pella, Norma and Carroll Harthoorn, and Edward and Judy Van Kooten all of Sully, and Lois (Clarence Van Kooten) Van Wyk.
Virginia was preceded in death by her husband; her son-in-law Duane Schmitt; her great-grandson Reuben Van Veldhuizen; her parents; her brothers-in-law Junior De Bruin, Marvin Branderhorst, Clarence Van Kooten, and Daniel Van Kooten; her parents-in-law Cornelius and Jennie (Dieleman) Van Kooten; her sisters- and brothers-in-law Jean and Kenneth Vos, Ida and Alberthus Harsselaar, and Norman Van Wyk.
