Evert Van Surksum

EVERT PETER VAN SURKSUM was born on March 28, 1933 to Henry and Bessie (Faas) Van Surksum south of Leota, Minnesota where he spent his younger years growing up. Evert was baptized on May 21, 1933 and made his profession of faith on September 2, 1951 at the Bethel Reformed Church in Leota. He attended country school through the eighth grade and then went into farming with his Dad. He eventually lived and farmed near Chandler, Minnesota. On June 17, 1953 Evert was united in marriage to Mary Ann Pool. From this marriage there were four children, Darla (Ivan) Westenberg, Ruth (Rodney) Corbin, Mavis (Myron) Hulstein and Doug (Marilyn) Van Surksum. On June 17, 1954 Evert was drafted into the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. On October 29, 1954 he received his certificate of training having completed Structural Steel Worker coursework. After completing active duty in Korea, Evert received his honorable discharge on March 23, 1956. Upon returning home Evert lived in Woodstock, Minnesota where he owned a feed grinding business, Van Surksum's Milling Service. On December 21, 1968 Evert was united in marriage to Carolyn Bruggeman. From this marriage there were four children, Beth (Michael) Westerbur, Ivan (Deb) Van Surksum, Chad (Vanessa) Van Surksum and Kristy Giesler. During this time the family lived in Jasper and Evert continued to operate his feed grinding business and also a livestock trucking business, Ev's Milling & Trucking Service. In March of 1974, Evert sold his business and went to work at Rupp’s Construction where he drove gravel truck for a time. He then stayed home tending to his younger children and doing odd jobs for the residents of Jasper such as scooping snow with his tractor until his retirement in 1993. Throughout his life, Evert enjoyed raising horses and attending horse shows. He played guitar in a country western band for a time, enjoyed listening to Johnny Cash, repaired tractors and often attended demolition derby events at county fairs. He loved playing guitar by himself at home and enjoyed playing checkers.

On Sunday, April 20, 2014 Evert died peacefully at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, Minnesota at the age of 81, years and 22 days.

Evert is survived by his eight children; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; two sisters, Etta Mae (Bert) Gunnink of Pipestone, Minnesota and Betty (Pete) Vos of Livingston, Texas; and other family. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Gerrit Van Surksum; and five sisters, Johanna Prins, Edna Blom, Harriet Kooiman, Evelyn Stoel and Cora (Kooiman) Bothof.