Joseph Van Roekel

Joseph Van Roekel MARION-Joseph Van Roekel, 91, of Marion passed away at 8:03 AM, Sunday, August 23, 2009 at Baptist Village of Hugo, Oklahoma. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM, Thursday, August 27, 2009 at the Blue Funeral Home in Marion with Reverend Cindy Bean and Reverend Dan Whitfield officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Wednesday, August 26, 2009 at the funeral home. Burial will be at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion. Memorials may be made to the Presbyterian Church Board of Pensions Assistance Program; envelopes are available at the funeral home or may be sent c/o Blue Funeral Home, PO Box 411, Marion, IL 62959. Dr. Van Roekel was born on March 25, 1918 in Leota Minnesota to Henry and Johanna (Ernisse) Van Roekel. He married Judith E. Schermerhorn on May 8, 1943 in Scotia, New York, together they shared almost 62 years of marriage, before her death on April 28, 2005. Survivors include; daughters and son-in-law, Carol Joy Gugert of Atlanta, Georgia, Constance Mae Novicoff of Denver, Colorado, and Bonnie Sue and David Middleton of Carterville; sons and daughter-in-law, Timothy Van Roekel of Hugo, Oklahoma and Clinton and Luisa Van Roekel of Raleigh, North Carolina; ten grandchildren; several great grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Eloise Oliver of Utica, New York, sisters Arlene Browen and Mary Ann Van Zee of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and brothers and sister-in-laws Willis and Goldie Van Roekel and Harold and Marion Van Roekel of Corsica South Dakota. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; sister Jeannette Lightenberg; and brothers Garrian Van Roekel and John Van Roekel. Dr. Van Roekel studied at several universities and seminaries for eighteen years culminating with a Doctorate in Theology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, on January 26, 1954. Joe was named “Man of the Year” by the Marion Rotary Club in 1988 for his service to the community. He served churches in Iowa and Illinois for 40 years before retiring in 1982. His service continued through 1999 as interim pastor for several communities in Southern Illinois. During his tenure in Illinois he also served as chaplain at the Marion Hospital, VA Hospital and the Penitentiary. He was active in church youth programs, summer camps, ministerial alliances and volunteered for many other community events.