Gerald L. Hamstra, 81, of Morrison, IL, died Wednesday, November 30, 2016, at Morrison Community Hospital.
Gerald was born February 13, 1935, in Morrison, to Marvin and Inez (Tenboer) Hamstra. He was educated in the rural Whiteside County grade schools and was a 1953 graduate of Erie High School in Erie, IL. He served in the U. S. Army. On October 4, 1974, he married Esther L. (Buikema) VanZuiden in Morrison. She died on December 24, 2013. Gerald was first engaged in farming in the Fenton, IL, area. He then worked for Herman Nelson, Climco, and General Electric, all of Morrison. Most recently he, along with his wife Esther, owned and operated Hamstra Carpet Cleaning, from 1975 until retiring in 2000. He was a member of Ebenezer Reformed Church in Morrison, serving as a deacon, elder, and adult Sunday school teacher. Gerald enjoyed knitting and made caps, scarves, and mittens for donation.
Survivors include one daughter, Marsha Hamstra of East Moline, IL; four sons, Kevin (Barb), Gregg (Tammy), Brad, and Arlyn (Lisa) Hamstra, all of Prophetstown, IL; two step-daughters, Debra VanZuiden and Deane (Mike) Patten, both of Morrison; two step-sons, Gary (Monica) VanZuiden of Dunlap, IL, and Rodney (Deann) VanZuiden of Morrison; 28 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; one sister, Ruth (Tony) Boom of Moline, IL; one brother, Keith (Joyce) Hamstra of Morrison.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Esther; one brother, in infancy; one step-daughter, in infancy.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 3, 2016, at Ebenezer Reformed Church in Morrison
OFFICIATING: Ken Renkes
VISITATION: 4:00 to 8:00 p.m,. on Friday, December 2, 2016, at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home
INTERMENT: Military honors will be accorded at Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison
A memorial to Ebenezer Reformed Church has been established.