Lambert Van Olst, 89, Rock Rapids, Iowa, died Thursday, June 10, 2021, at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center in Long Beach, California.
A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 29, at First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 28, with family present from 6 to 8 p.m. at First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids.
Lambert Van Olst was born Dec. 1, 1931, in Hierden, the Netherlands, to John and Maria (Timmer) Van Olst. He was the oldest of eight children. He attended “primary” school for eight years and four years at baking school. He served the Netherlands in the Dutch army.
On Feb 5, 1954, Lambert came to America at the age of 22. He ended up in Hull, Iowa, because his dad's second cousin, John Hymans, sponsored him. His first job was at Sandy's Bakery (Phil Hess) in Rock Rapids.
He married Kathleen Tilstra on Nov. 10, 1954, at the First Reformed Church. They moved to Sheldon where he worked at Brouwer's bakery. He then worked for Prahl's Firestone Tires. They moved to Orange City to work for the bakery there and attend Northwestern college for elementary education. After graduating they moved to Rock Rapids and taught school for two years in Hills and then two years in Little Rock, Iowa. They took night courses and summer school and earned their BA degrees.
Lambert and his wife operated several businesses over the years including the Golden Crust Bakery in Rock Rapids, Sibley Bakery and Luverne Bakery; Rapids Marine and Trailer Sales in Rock Rapids and finally LVO Manufacturing in Rock Rapids. Lambert retired in 2005. Lambert’s wife, Kathleen, died Nov. 30, 2008, at age 77.
Lambert attended the First Reformed Church of Rock Rapids, was a member of the Jaycees, Kiwanis, the Chamber of Commerce, and was an EMT.
Lambert married Katherine (Hop) Appel on May 28, 2012, at Okoboji, Iowa. They enjoyed traveling and shared homes in Florida, California, and Iowa.
Lambert is survived by his wife, Katherine Van Olst of Artesia, California; two daughters, Marilyn (Bill) Mammenga and Laura (Leroy) Stuerman, all of Rock Rapids; six grandchildren, Maranda Sprock of Rock Rapids, Nicholas (Tiffany) Van De Berg of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Melissa (Gerod) Olivier of Brandon, South Dakota, Alexandra (Kris) Krull of Rock Rapids, Scott (Kayla) Stuerman of Rock Rapids, and Eric (Erica) Stuerman of Rock Rapids; 10 great-grandchildren; two stepchildren, Doug (Karyn) Appel and Patricia Keen, both of Artesia; three stepgrandchildren, Ryan and Melanie Appel, both of Artesia, and Scott (Krystal) Keen of Sioux Fall; two stepgreat-grandchildren; a brother, John (Karmen) Van Olst of Lake Park, Iowa; four sisters, Eileen De Jong of St. Joseph, Missouri, Gertrude (Dennis) Overweg of Sioux Falls, and Gerri Reinke and Lucy Ymker, both of Rock Valley, Iowa; brother-in-law Fred (Sharon) Tilstra of Rock Rapids; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.
Lambert was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Kathleen Van Olst; infant sister Wympje Gertrida; sister Marie Addink; and a great-granddaughter, Jessa Olivier.
Arrangements are provided by Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, jurrensfuneralhome.com.
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