Harold J. Riemersma

Harold J. Riemersma

Ashton, Iowa

Funeral services for Harold J. Riemersma, age 85, of Ashton who passed away at his residence on Friday, August 1, 2025. His memorial service will be at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, at American Lutheran Church in Melvin with Pastor Judith Johnson, officiating.

A private family graveside will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Matlock.

Visitation with family present will be from 5 to 7 P.M. on Monday, August 4, 2025, at Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.

IN LOVING MEMORY

HAROLD J. RIEMERSMA

BORN

March 19, 1940

rural Matlock

PASSED AWAY

August 1, 2025

Ashton, Iowa

MEMORIAL SERVICE

11:00 A.M. Tuesday, August 5, 2025

American Lutheran Church; Melvin, Iowa

Pastor Judith Johnson - Officiating

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS

“Amazing Grace”

“This Is My Father’s World”

“Leaning On The Everlasting Arms”

Organist: Pat Wachtel

HONORARY CASKET BEARERS

Colin Elliott 

Kipper Riemersma

Jillian Martinson 

Elizabeth Engleman

CASKET BEARERS

Paul Riemersma 

Ben Riemersma

Taylor Klemme 

Eric Martinson

Dalton Elliott 

Ben Engleman

FINAL RESTING PLACE

Private Family Graveside

Greenwood Cemetery

Matlock, Iowa

After today’s service, relatives and friends are invited to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church.

Arrangements are under the care of the

Vander Ploeg Funeral Home; Sheldon, Iowa.

HAROLD J. RIEMERSMA

Harold John Riemersma was born in a farmhouse by Matlock on March 19, 1940, to John and Alice (Vanden Berg) Riemersma.

His father, John, farmed close to his grandfather, Henry, and his uncle, Henry Jr (Hien), in the Matlock area. He spent a lot of time at his grandparents’ house playing, and getting into mischief, with his uncle’s Art and Donny who were only a couple of years older than he was. He went to primary school in Matlock, He went to high school in George, graduating in 1958. After high school, he worked on the farm of Elmer Jack Klinkenberg of George IA and then went to Nettleton college in Sioux City for bookkeeping and accounting.

After graduating from college, in early 1962, he started work at the Sanborn Coop Elevator as a bookkeeper where he would work for the next 9 years. That same year, he married Judith Maureen Eilers in the fall. The young couple lived in Sanborn where they had their daughter Robin and their son Craig. They moved to an acreage between Sanborn and Sheldon in 1969 and had their youngest daughter, Shawn, that same year. Shortly after that, they moved south of Sanborn where Harold quit his job at the elevator and started farming full-time. He had a sizeable dairy herd for the time. In 1972 he moved once again to a farm south of Ashton, where he would live for the rest of his life.

In the early 1980’s he worked for Demco in Boyden and then Village NW Unlimited in Sheldon until retirement at 70. He wasn’t sure if he was ready to retire at 70 but he quickly adapted to retirement life. He had time to work around his acreage, visit children and grandchildren, and do a little traveling (not much but a little).

He was a member of the 1020 investment club in Sanborn and enjoyed socializing and discussing farming with the many rural members of the group. He also enjoyed watching the stock prices and contemplating when he should buy or sell stocks. He kept a close eye on Walmart.

His love for farming cannot be understated. Even after farming became his secondary occupation, he still lived out in the country and raised steers well into his retirement. After he quit raising livestock, he still had livestock bunks and water fountains ready to go like he might buy one more batch of hogs or cattle to fatten up.

He had an extensive toy tractor collection. How many? We don’t know, maybe a thousand or a few more. He knows where he got each one and if he got a deal on it. He could tell you who owned the actual tractor, where they farmed, and the equipment that they used with the tractor.

He enjoyed his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was blessed with spirited grandchildren that provided him with an endless source of entertainment.

Left to cherish Harold’s memory are his wife Judy; three children and their spouses, Robin and Mike Klemme of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Shawn and Dean Elliott of Grand Island, Nebraska, and Craig and Kathryn Riemersma of Bondurant, Iowa; grandchildren, Travis Klemme, Jillian (Eric) Martinson, Taylor Klemme, Elizabeth (Ben) Engleman, Dalton and Colin Elliott, Benjamin, Kipper, and Paul Riemersma; great grandchildren, Devin Klemme, Avery, Sadie, Ellie and Owen Martinson, and Lane Engleman. Harold is also survived by his brother Dennis Riemersma of Red Cloud, Nebraska and brother-in-law, Gerald Slouthouber of Sioux Center, Iowa

He was preceded in death by his parents John and Alice (Van Den Berg) Riemersma, his sister Adeline, and his sister-in-law Linda Riemersma.

At the time of his passing on Friday, August 1, 2025, at their farmhouse near Ashton, he was surrounded by those who loved him and greatly mourn his passing.