LaVerne Sikkema ’51

LaVerne Sikkema ’51, age 91, of Holland passed away on Friday, July 13, 2018.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, the former Lorraine Van Farowe. LaVerne was born near Morrison, Il on April 7, 1927. He graduated from Hope College and Cornell University. Later he attended Western Michigan University to obtain aviation training. Together with his wife, he spent 40 years as a missionary of the Reformed Church in America serving in the Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya. LaVerne has over 14,000 flying hours in a single-engine Cessna.

He is also survived by their children Linda (Dennis) Popkes, Karen (John) Loudon, Milton (Sheri) Sikkema, Arloa (Larry) Ten Kley, and Charlotte (Barton) Pinson. He has 12 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Ronald (Audrey) Sikkema.

La Verne is remembered for his love of sports, especially softball (pitcher), his love for John Deere tractors, and his great sense of humor. He loved to tell jokes and puns, and enjoyed hearing people laugh.

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