Edward "Ed" James Kuiper

Edward “Ed” Kuiper Sheldon, Iowa Edward “Ed” J. Kuiper, age 89, of Sheldon, Iowa passed away on Thursday, November 4, 2021, at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. His Memorial Service will be at 10:30 A.M. on Monday, November 8, 2021 at the First Reformed Church in Sheldon, Iowa with Rev. Paul Van Maaren ~ officiating. The service will be Livestreamed at sheldonfirstreformed.com Burial will be in the East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon Visitation with the Family present will be from 3:00 – 5:00 P.M. on Sunday, November 7, 2021 at the First Reformed Church in Sheldon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to First Reformed Church, Sheldon, Iowa. Arrangements are under the care of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home; Sheldon, Iowa. Online condolences may be made to the Family at www.vanderploegfunerals.com IN LOVING MEMORY OF EDWARD “ED” J. KUIPER BORN December 31, 1931~ Hull, Iowa PASSED AWAY November 4, 2021~ Sioux Falls, South Dakota MEMORIAL SERVICE 10:30 A.M. Monday, November 8, 2021 First Reformed Church; Sheldon, Iowa Rev. Paul Van Maaren ~ Officiating MUSIC “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder” Sung by: Pastor Paul Van Maaren CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS “Blessed Assurance” #345 Organist: Ingetta Tutje CASKET BEARERS “Grandchildren” Dr. Trevor Kuiper Dr. Justin Kuiper Dr. Joe Kuiper Tyler Punt Tanner Punt Trent Punt Dr. Joshua Locker Dr. Daniel Locker Jessica Locker Herold Dr. Emily Flom Christy Flom Elizabeth Flom FINAL RESTING PLACE East Lawn Cemetery ~ Sheldon, Iowa Memorials be directed to: First Reformed Church, Sheldon After today’s service relatives and friends are invited to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church. Arrangements under the care of the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home; Sheldon, Iowa Edward James Kuiper, who was born December 31, 1931, in Hull, Iowa to Pearl (Hoksbergen) Kuiper and Alvin Kuiper. Ed received his early education in Hull and Artesia, CA and graduated from Hull High School in 1949. As the eldest of four siblings raised by a single mother, he learned the value of frugality, resilience, and hard work. On June 5, 1957, he was united in marriage to Dena Van Oort of George, Iowa, at the Matlock Reformed Church. They lived in Canton from 1957 to 1963, where he co-owned Canton Produce with his partner, Harry Dykstra. Ed was a founding member of the Canton Reformed Church and served on the Consistory there. In 1963, Ed and Dena moved to the Van Oort farm in Matlock and continued to farm for nearly 60 years. They joined the Matlock Reformed Church where Ed actively served as an elder and taught Sunday School. Later, he was a dedicated member of the Sheldon First Reformed Church and usually the last to leave Sunday morning coffee hour. Ed and Dena wintered in Mesa, Arizona for many years. After Dena passed away in 2011, Ed married Lois Fenson, his loving wife of over nine years. Lois was an incredible blessing to Ed and his family during their marriage. Ed loved meeting people and making new friends everywhere he went. He had a powerful work ethic and loved farm life and raising cattle. He especially appreciated the simple and beautiful views found while driving through the rural countryside. Ed was a respected and loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather who instilled a strong sense of curiosity and life-long learning in his children and grandchildren and was immensely proud of their various academic pursuits. He lived his life guided by a deep, abiding faith, humility, integrity, and humor and was cherished by all who knew him. Ed passed away on November 4, 2021, at the age of 89 from a hemorrhagic stroke. He is greatly loved by his wife, Lois Fenson Kuiper; his four children: Lyle (Tami) Kuiper, Sheldon; Linda (Darryl) Punt, Noblesville, IN; Deb (Steve) Locker, Orange City; and Pamela (Bill) Flom, Grosse Pointe Farms, MI; Twelve grandchildren: Trevor (Kara) Kuiper, Justin (Blake) Kuiper, Joe Kuiper, Tyler (Laura) Punt, Tanner (Meganne) Punt, Trent (Shelby) Punt, Joshua (Valerie) Locker, Daniel (Ashley) Locker, Jessica (Alex) Herold, Emily, Christy and Elizabeth Flom; Twelve great-grandchildren. Sisters, Alvina Davelaar and Marge Warner. He is also survived by brothers-in-law, Rev. Sylvester Van Oort and Rev. Glenn (Eileen) Van Oort, and sisters-in-law, Lois (Bob) Falk and Josie Van Oort. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dena Kuiper; brother, John Kuiper; and great-granddaughter, Lydia Jade Locker.