Cornelius Antonius Van Berkum
May 26, 1925 — October 25, 2017
Cornelius Antonius “Van” Van Berkum, 92, of Marion, Iowa, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, October 25, 2017. A Parish Vigil Service will begin at 4:00 p.m. Monday, October 30, 2017, followed by visitation until 7:00 p.m. at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, October 31, 2017, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion by Father David O’Connor. Burial: Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include a son, Thomas (Kathy) Van Berkum of Marion; two daughters, Martha Jayne (Jeff) Myhre of Plano, Texas and Julie Van Berkum of Marion; ten grandchildren, Jamie (Kate) Van Berkum, Joanna (Shane) Witter, Jenny Van Berkum, Vicki (Bret) Deckard, Valerie (Rich) Steepleton, Neil Van Berkum, Joe (Jo) Van Berkum, Jacob (Missie) Myhre, Rachel (Jason) Rowe and Jessica (Brian) Cyphers; fifteen great-grandchildren; a brother, Andy (Beulah) Van Berkum of Pella, Iowa; and a daughter-in-law, Joan Van Berkum.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Georgia; a son, James Van Berkum; a brother, John “Boots” Van Berkum; and a sister, Martha Weidmaier.
Cornelius was born May 26, 1925, the son of Cornelius & Johanna (Gielen) Van Berkum in Pella. He graduated from Pella High School and attended Bailey Diesel School in St. Louis, Missouri. Cornelius served with the U.S. Navy from 1943-1946 during WWII with the 136th and 72nd Battalion SeaBees in Guam and Japan. On June 5, 1948, he married Georgia Joanne Van Gorkum in Pella at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She died October 18, 2015.
He worked at Herman M. Brown Co. in Des Moines for eleven years before he and Georgia started their business in 1957, Van’s Fuel Injection Service in Cedar Rapids and then moved the shop to Marion in 1969 until retiring in 1989. He lived at Bickford Cottage for several months before recently returning home.
Cornelius enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, water skiing, snowmobiling, and gardening. He loved to cook and sit by the fire with family and friends at his happy place, Lake Delhi. Cornelius loved to sit at home and watch sports on television. He especially loved the Iowa Hawkeyes. His sense of humor and love for life will be missed by many.
He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion.
Memorials may be directed to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Camp Courageous or Catholic Charities.
The family would like to thank Dr. Schultes and Hospice of Mercy for their special care.
Survivors include a son, Thomas (Kathy) Van Berkum of Marion; two daughters, Martha Jayne (Jeff) Myhre of Plano, Texas and Julie Van Berkum of Marion; ten grandchildren, Jamie (Kate) Van Berkum, Joanna (Shane) Witter, Jenny Van Berkum, Vicki (Bret) Deckard, Valerie (Rich) Steepleton, Neil Van Berkum, Joe (Jo) Van Berkum, Jacob (Missie) Myhre, Rachel (Jason) Rowe and Jessica (Brian) Cyphers; fifteen great-grandchildren; a brother, Andy (Beulah) Van Berkum of Pella, Iowa; and a daughter-in-law, Joan Van Berkum.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Georgia; a son, James Van Berkum; a brother, John “Boots” Van Berkum; and a sister, Martha Weidmaier.
Cornelius was born May 26, 1925, the son of Cornelius & Johanna (Gielen) Van Berkum in Pella. He graduated from Pella High School and attended Bailey Diesel School in St. Louis, Missouri. Cornelius served with the U.S. Navy from 1943-1946 during WWII with the 136th and 72nd Battalion SeaBees in Guam and Japan. On June 5, 1948, he married Georgia Joanne Van Gorkum in Pella at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She died October 18, 2015.
He worked at Herman M. Brown Co. in Des Moines for eleven years before he and Georgia started their business in 1957, Van’s Fuel Injection Service in Cedar Rapids and then moved the shop to Marion in 1969 until retiring in 1989. He lived at Bickford Cottage for several months before recently returning home.
Cornelius enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, water skiing, snowmobiling, and gardening. He loved to cook and sit by the fire with family and friends at his happy place, Lake Delhi. Cornelius loved to sit at home and watch sports on television. He especially loved the Iowa Hawkeyes. His sense of humor and love for life will be missed by many.
He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion.
Memorials may be directed to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Camp Courageous or Catholic Charities.
The family would like to thank Dr. Schultes and Hospice of Mercy for their special care.
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