Cover photo for Ervin C. Bolkema's Obituary
Ervin C. Bolkema Profile Photo
1935 Ervin 2020

Ervin C. Bolkema

February 24, 1935 — July 21, 2020

Ervin C. Bolkema
Sheldon, Iowa
Ervin C. Bolkema, age 85, of Sheldon, Iowa, passed away on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at the Sanford Sheldon Senior Care in Sheldon, Iowa. His Memorial Service will be at 11:00am on Saturday, July 25, 2020 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon with Rev. Carl Klompien ~ officiating.
Burial will be at 10:15 A.M. in the East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon with military honors presented by McGlothlen-Cowie Post #145 of the American Legion.
Visitation with family present will be from 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. on Friday, July 24, 2020 at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.

The family requests that everyone observes the social distancing guidelines during the visitation and the service at the church.
The Service will be live-streamed on First Christian Reformed Church website:
www.atfirst.org

Arrangements are under the care of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.
Online condolences may be sent to www.vanderploegfunerals.com

IN LOVING MEMORY OF
ERVIN C. BOLKEMA

BORN
February 24, 1935
Sheldon, Iowa
PASSED AWAY
July 21, 2020
Sheldon, Iowa

MEMORIAL SERVICE
11:00 A.M. Saturday, July 25, 2020
First Christian Reformed Church; Sheldon, Iowa
Rev. Carl Klompien ~ Officiating

MUSIC
“Better Off There” and “The He Medley”
Sung by the Browns
CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS
Processional “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
Recessional “By The Sea of Crystal”
Organist: Von Bolkema

HONORARY CASKET BEARERS
Chris Bolkema Mitch Bolkema
Adam Brown Kaleb Heckstein

FINAL RESTING PLACE
Graveside services 10:15 A.M.
Saturday July 25, 2020
East Lawn Cemetery; Sheldon, Iowa

Military graveside service by McGlothen-Cowie Post #145 of the American Legion of Sheldon, Iowa

Arrangements under the care of the
Vander Ploeg Funeral Home; Sheldon, Iowa
ERVIN C. BOLKEMA
Ervin C. Bolkema the son of Elze and Tillie (DeVries) Bolkema was born on February 24, 1935 in Sheldon, Iowa and passed away on Tuesday, July 21, 2020 at the Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon, Iowa reaching the age of 85 years, four months and twenty seven days. He attended Sheldon Christian School and Hull Western Christian High School. Ervin proudly served his country in the United States Army from 1954 until his discharge in 1956. He married Gladys Holtrop on February 17, 1959 in Sheldon. They lived on the farm until 1985 when they moved to Sheldon. They moved into the Christian Retirement Home in 2017. Ervin and Gladys moved into Sanford Senior Care in March 2020.
Ervin was a lifelong farmer. His mechanic and carpentry skills served him well throughout his life as he could build or fix anything. He made his first shelf as a preschooler and never stopped, even constructing his own grandfather clock from scratch. Ervin and Gladys enjoyed camping and volunteering. They developed many friendships through volunteering for Love Inc; Alpha Center; The Banquet; Volunteers in Christian Service and Justice for All to name a few. He was a long-time member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon. Ervin had a heart of service and served on numerous boards including Hope Haven, Alpha Center, Cutty’s and the Christian Retirement Home.
Survivors include his wife, Gladys of Sheldon, Iowa; children, Brenda (Randy) Van Kley of Spencer, Iowa; Ed (Jody) Bolkema of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Marcia Bolkema of Sheldon, Iowa; four grandchildren, Chris Bolkema, Jen (Adam) Brown, Mitch (Kensi) Bolkema and Sara (Kaleb) Heckstein; four great grandchildren; Grayson Bolkema, Kate Brown, Liam Bolkema and Greta Brown also other relatives and many friends.
Ervin was preceded in death by his parents, Elze and Tillie Bolkema; an infant daughter, Gayla and his brothers, Vernon, Clarence and Johnnie.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Ervin C. Bolkema, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, July 24, 2020

5:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

Vander Ploeg Funeral Home - Sheldon

724 Sixth Avenue , Sheldon, IA 51201

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Service

Saturday, July 25, 2020

11:00 - 11:45 am (Central time)

First Christian Reformed Church

901 9th Street, Sheldon, IA 51201

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Burial

East Lawn Cemetery - Sheldon

700 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38103

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