Memorial services for Arie Verdoorn formerly of Hollandale, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, at the Hollandale Reformed Church. The Rev. Mark Volkers will officiate. Interment will be in the Hollandale Cemetery.

Arie Verdoorn was born on Nov. 26, 1909, on the family farm near Boyden, Iowa, to Arie and Agnes Verdoorn. When he was a teenager, his family moved to the new town of Hollandale, where he lived for the next 40 years. In 1933 Arie married Betty Hammink, beginning a rich and fulfilling life together for the next 68 years. Arie and Betty relocated to Arizona in 1965 for Betty&8217;s health and then back to Minnesota and the Northfield Retirement Community in 1999.

Arie was a gifted mechanic, owning a business in Hollandale for more than 25 years, first with his twin brother, Henry, and then as a sole proprietorship. In Arizona he continued to work as a mechanic until he retired in 1976. He was devoted to his family (we will miss hearing him sing &8220;Happy Birthday&8221; over the phone) and had many activities he enjoyed:

bowling, fishing, singing in choirs and quartets at church, and horseshoes.

Arie loved to visit with friends and family and was especially happy when cards or games were part of the visiting.

He was active in church leadership and was a founding member of Desert Haven Community Church in Tempe, Ariz. He had a wonderful sense of humor and laughed easily – his eyes would twinkle when he could tease someone a little.

He had a special fondness for the loving people who cared for him at NRC over the last five years.

Arie is preceded in death by his wife Betty.

Those who will miss him include five children: Bob (Arlys), Pella, Iowa, Joyce (Dave), Pequot Lakes, Don (Shirley), Rochester, Kathy, Munster, Ind. and Tom (Jan), Minneapolis. Arie was blessed with 15 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Surviving siblings include identical twin brother Henry, Hollandale; brother Emery (Betty), Delevan; and sister Cornelia Miller (or Sis), Ohio.

Four brothers

preceded Arie in death: Cornelius (Hollandale), and William, Marion and Richard (all of Delavan).

Arie has earned his rest and reward.

We will miss him as our Dad, Grampa, brother, uncle and friend.

RIP

Memorials are preferred to the Northfield Retirement Community Care Center or the Gideons.