Cornelius Van Berkum

CORNELIUS ANTONIUS "VAN"

VAN BERKUM

Marion

Cornelius Antonius "Van" Van Berkum, 92, of Marion, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. A parish Vigil service will begin at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 30, followed by visitation until 7 p.m. at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center in Marion. Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday,

Oct. 31, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion by Father David O'Connor. Burial: Mouny Calvary Cemetery in Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include a son, Thomas (Kathy) Van Berkum of Marion; two daughters, Martha Jayne (Jeff) Myhre of Plano, Texas, and Julie Van Berkum of Marion; 10 grandchildren, Jamie (Kate) Van Berkum, Joanna (Shane) Witter, Jenny Van Berkum, Vicki (Bret) Deckard, Valerie (Rich) Steepleton, Neil Van Berkum, Joe (Jo) Van Berkum, Jacob (Missie) Myhre, Rachel (Jason) Rowe and Jessica (Brian) Cyphers; 15 great-grandchildren; a brother, Andy (Beulah) Van Berkum of Pella, Iowa; and a daughter-in-law, Joan Van Berkum.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Georgia; a son, James Van Berkum; a brother, John "Boots" Van Berkum; and a sister, Martha Weidmaier.

Cornelius was born May 26, 1925, the son of Cornelius and Johanna (Gielen) Van Berkum in Pella. He graduated from Pella High School and attended Bailey Diesel School in St. Louis, Mo. Cornelius served with the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 during World War II with the 136th and 72nd Battalion SeaBees in Guam and Japan. On June 5, 1948, he married Georgia Joanne Van Gorkum in Pella at St. Mary's Catholic Church. She died Oct. 18, 2015.

He worked at Herman M. Brown Co. in Des Moines for 11 years before he and Georgia started their business, Van's Fuel Injection Service, in Cedar Rapids in 1957. They moved the shop to Marion in 1969 and retired in 1989. He lived at Bickford Cottage for several months before recently returning home.

Cornelius enjoyed hunting, fishing, boating, water skiing, snowmobiling and gardening. He loved to cook and sit by the fire with family and friends at his happy place, Lake Delhi. Cornelius loved to sit at home and watch sports on television. He especially loved the Iowa Hawkeyes. His sense of humor and love for life will be missed by many.

He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Marion.

Memorials may be directed to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Camp Courageous or Catholic Charities.

The family would like to thank Dr. Schultes and Hospice of Mercy for their special care.

Please share a memory of Van at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.