Service of Remembrance for Anthony "Tony" Kooiman, 92, lifelong Perkins County farmer/rancher will be Thursday, May 29th, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. at the Holland Center Christian Reformed Church near Lodgepole, SD. Rev. Brad Burkhalter will officiate and burial will follow at the Holland Center Cemetery with Full Military Honors afforded by the Johnson-Melary American Legion Post #115. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 28th at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger, ND and on hour prior to the funeral at the church on Thursday morning.


Anthony (Tony) Kooiman was born on January 8th, 1916 in a sod house near Ellingson, SD to Teunis and Libby (Kok) Kooiman. He was the oldest of 3 sons, grew up and worked on the family and neighboring farms. He purchased his first John Deere tractor in the 1930's and helped his neighbors plant their crops. Tony was drafted into the U.S. Army in April 1942, taking training at Fort Knox, TN; Camp Cook, CA and Pine Camp, NY.


While home on furlough he married Gertrude Vliem. He was shipped over seas and landed in England, and then on to Utah Beach, France, on July 24th, 1944. He fought in numerous battles including, The Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, France; Luxemburg, Germany; and the Netherlands. He served with Patton's 3rd Army, 10th tank Battalion, 5th Armored Division. The 5th Armored Division was the first division to break through the Siegfried Line and the first to fight on German soil, quite often behind enemy lines. He was honorably discharged from the Army on October 18th, 1945. Tony was proud to have fought in WWII and serve his country. After his discharge, he bought his parent's homestead in Wilson Township and farmed there until 1964.


They purchased a place in Lodgepole Township where he resided until his death. He liked his tractors and everybody knew he was a John Deere man. Tony passed away at his home on Sunday morning, May 25th, 2008.


Happy to have shared his live are his wife of 64 years Gert, three children; Darryl (Rose) Kooiman, Lauren (Steve) Macri, and Beverly (Iver) Heier; three grandchildren, Sarah Kooiman, Jennifer (Tyler) Mickelson, Amanda (Eric) Schuchard and four great-grandchildren; Will Mickelson, and Kiley, Jarett and Jozi Schuchard.


Tony was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers; Arthur and William Kooiman and his grandson Daniel Kooiman.