Bill Verdoorn

The family of William Verdoorn invite you to join them as they celebrate Bill's life well lived. Bill died August 4, 2020 and a private burial was held at Newkirk Cemetery.

The Celebration to honor Bill will be held Sunday, August 8, 2021, at 2:00pm at the United Methodist Church in Lake Park. The service will be in the fellowship hall; casual attire is appropriate.

Bill was born  January 3, 1933, to Henry W. and Dena Roos Verdoorn in Newkirk, Iowa.  He was a graduate of Newkirk High School where he was a starter on the 1950 state basketball team.

Bill was united in marriage to Virginia Timmons Verdoorn at the Methodist Church in Ocheyedan, Iowa and they were blessed with 3 children: Susan (Tom) Sachse of Overland Park, KS, grandson Scott (Katie) Sachse and great grandsons Henry and Gus of Leawood, KS and grandson Jack (Lauren Bonds) Sachse and great granddaughter Zuri of Overland Park, KS; Michael (Jan) Verdoorn of Orange City, granddaughter Nichole (Chris) Immeker of Orange City and great grandson Colby and great granddaughters Maya and Eva, granddaughter Amy (Riley) Kleinhesselink of Orange City and great granddaughters Payton and Kate and great grandson Hudson, grandson Alex Verdoorn of Indianapolis, IN; and daughter Kathy (Terry) Van Berkum of Rock Rapids, grandson Sean (Cassie) Van Berkum of Rock Rapids, great grandsons Dylann, Kayden and Jayce and great granddaughters Kyra and Raylynn, grandson Nick (Shandra) Van Berkum of Ames and great grandson Rosco and granddaughter Abbey (Derek) De Groot of Hinton and great grandsons Karver and Daxton and great granddaughter Emersyn.

Bill and Ginny lived in the Newkirk area until he joined the Army in 1954 and was stationed at bases in Georgia, California and Texas. They then lived and raised their family in Orange City for 40 years, until retiring to Lake Park in 2000 where their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren loved spending time with them first on their acreage in Orange City and later at their home on Silver Lake.

Bill was a lifelong beekeeper which was the perfect job for him as he loved working outdoors and eating his lunch among the birds, wild turkeys and occasional deer. Many of his grandchildren remember Grandpa Bill as being their first boss when they worked for him summers in the Honey House. While in Orange City, Bill and Ginny were members of Trinity Reformed Church, enjoyed playing cards with friends and following the Northwestern Red Raiders. Upon retirement, they joined the United Methodist Church of Lake Park where they made friends who became like family.

Bill enjoyed woodworking, making many things for every home they lived in and gifting every grandchild and great grandchild with a personal bench. Bill was a member of the Orange City American Legion and a lifelong member of the NRA.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, sister Shirley Vande Hoef and in-laws Ivan and Dorothy Timmons.

His children, grandchildren and great grandchildren always knew how precious they were to him. There will be a private burial on Saturday, August 15, 2020 at the Newkirk Cemetery. The family plans a large gathering to celebrate Bill’s life at a later date.  Memorials may be made to United Methodist Church of Lake Park and Northwestern College Athletics in Orange City, Iowa which may be sent to P.O.Box 188, Lake Park, IA 51347.