Scott Kooiman
Scott Kooiman, 49, of Orange City, Iowa, passed away on Friday, Sep- tember 13, 2024, at his home. A prayer service took place on Wednesday, September 18, at 10:00 a.m., at the church, followed by interment at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. There was a memorial service on Wednesday, at 11:00 a.m., at the church with the Rev. Jeffrey Whitt officiating.
Scott Alan was born October 28, 1974, in Worthington, Minnesota, the eldest of four children born to Alvin and Alvina (De Jager) Kooiman. He grew up in Worthington and was a student at Worthington Christian and Southwest Christian High School in Edgerton, Minnesota. Scott then con- tinued his education at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, earning de- grees in Business and Accounting. He later attended the Graduate School of Banking in Madison, Wisconsin.
Scott was passionate about community banking and took great pleasure in serving his custom- ers and the community. He worked almost thirty years in banking, fifteen years at First State Bank Southwest in Worthington, and the rest at Iowa State Bank in Orange City. Scott also worked in fi- nance for a number of years at Truverse Property Management in Spencer, Iowa, and most recently at Van Beek Natural Science in Orange City. Here too, he had a deep desire to use the gifts God gave him and valued the relationships he formed with his coworkers.
Scott joined the board of First State Bank Southwest in 2023 and greatly enjoyed learning new aspects of the banking world in this role. He especially treasured serving alongside his father. He also joyfully served on the board of The Luke Society and enjoyed the opportunity to serve with his wife as a volunteer supporting a Luke Society ministry in Argentina.
Scott met the love of his life, Anne Vogel, in Edgerton. Scott said he knew after their second date that Anne was the one, and she quickly came to the same conclusion. They were engaged less than three months after their first date, and six months after that were united in marriage on June 25, 2005, at the Luverne Christian Reformed Church in Luverne, Minnesota.
The couple settled in Orange City, where they joyfully welcomed their four children. A faithful husband and father, Scott loved his family selflessly. While he did not initially share Anne’s love of camping, he loved her deeply and therefore willingly hauled their camper on adventures every year. Over the years he came to treasure the time to get away from everything and make wonderful memories with his children, enjoying God’s beautiful creation, and exploring new areas.
Scott was intentional in nurturing his relationships with each of his four children, Sam, Joanna, Abby, and Sadie. He and Sam loved building Legos together. His last gift to Sam was a Lego set, which Sam finished the day before Scott died. Scott fought hard to stay aware and celebrate the project’s completion. Joanna loved to hang out with her dad, chatting, watching TV shows together, and going out for buffalo wings. Often, in this past month, she and Scott could be found holding hands and talking. He and Abby built a special bond as he taught her how to build campfires and work on other projects. Throughout his time on hospice care, Abby made smoothies for him virtu- ally every day. And Sadie was his little cuddlebug and loved to give Scott back rubs. Her “job” during his time on hospice care was massaging his head, and she chatted away all the while.
Scott was a faithful member of New Hope Evangelical Free Church and a former member of the Immanuel Christian Reformed Church, both in Orange City. He enjoyed two terms serving as a deacon at Immanuel, and especially appreciated the friendships formed and deepened through this service. Always, he highly valued and loved gathering in worship with fellow believers every week, and this was a rhythm he strove to instill in his children.
Scott took a genuine interest in those around him. He was a loyal and sincere friend. In all of his roles he thought of others before himself. He faithfully prayed for the needs of his friends and family. Even in his last days, when his ability to speak was greatly diminished, if he heard grief or anguish in the voice of those near him, especially his dear wife, he would reach out his hand to give comfort.
In August of 2022, Scott was diagnosed with colon cancer. From the beginning, he deeply desired to glorify God and testify to His faithfulness. He fought bravely, while all the time knowing his victory was sure in Christ. His legacy of peace and trust in the midst of overwhelming trials will always be a source of great comfort to his wife, children, family and beyond. He finished the race well. To God be the glory.
He will be deeply missed by his wife, Anne; and their four children, Samuel, Joanna, Abigail, and Sadie, all of Orange City; his parents, Alvin and Alvina Kooiman, of Sioux Center; three sisters and their husbands, Tami and Jason Koelewyn, of Sioux Center; Mindy and Doug Holesinger, of Fulton, Illinois; and Dawn and Tim Van Vugt, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Anne’s parents, Wrede and Barb Vogel, of Luverne; Anne’s two siblings and their spouses, Erika and Matt Brossard of Orange City; and Chris and Jess Vogel, of Luverne; Anne’s grandfather, Frank Vogel, of Orange City; along with seventeen nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by two children born to heaven; and his maternal and paternal grand- parents.
