Sam Oudekerk

Funeral services for Sam Oudekerk, age 90, of Albert Lea will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, January 14, 2011 at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Chapel.  Rev. Kent Otterman will officiate.  Interment will be at the Blooming Prairie Cemetery with Military Honors by area veteran’s organizations.  Visitation will be from 4-7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 13th at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service.  

Sam died Monday, January 10, 2011 at Good Samaritan Center.

Sam Oudekerk was born on January 23, 1920 in Kesly, Iowa to Roelf and Rena (Weichers) Oudekerk.  He grew up in north central Iowa and went to school in Dumont and Garner Iowa.  Sam served in the United States Army during WWII.  In 1941 Sam moved to Hollandale and began farming on his own.  On January 23, 1947 he was united in marriage to Tillie Noordhoek in Hollandale.  Through his interest in planes, Sam earned his private pilots license and enjoyed flying.  He liked farming and working with his tiling machine.  In his spare time Sam enjoyed fishing, hunting and spending time with his family.

Survivors include his wife, Tillie; sons, Roelf (Sandra) Oudekerk, Tom (Patty) Oudekerk, and Arie (Dawn Wollschlager) Oudekerk, Jane Oudekerk-Eastman; grandchildren, Travis Oudekerk, Trenton Oudekerk, James (Tammy) Oudekerk, Troy (Tammy) Oudekerk, Tamra (Chad) Kirschbaum, and Arianne (Ryan) Steenblock; step-grandchildren, Curt (Catherine) Bauers, Jim Bauers, Mitch (Meghan) Bauers, Melissa (Craig) Schmidt and Zoé Oudekerk; 8 great-grandchildren; 7 step-great-grandchildren; sisters, Harriet (Lloyd) Thoren, Cora (Lawrence) Maupin and Rosie (Bob) Holecek; many nieces and nephews.

Sam was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter in infancy; brothers, Henry (Elizabeth) Oudekerk, John (Harriet) Oudekerk, Koert Oudekerk at age 5; and John Oudekerk at 6 months; sisters, Jesse Oudekerk, Irene (Kobes) Miller and Elizabeth (Henry) Oudekerk; brothers-in-law, Leonard (Elsie) Noordhoek, Garrit (Sara) Noordhoek, Bill (Anna) Noordhoek, and John (Lila) Noordhoek; sisters-in-law, Gertrude (Oathel) Kendal and Maggie (Tony) Kochis.