- Date Of Birth: August 19, 1949
- Date Of Death: July 16, 2022
- State: Iowa
Harold Jay Gorter was born August 19, 1949, to Fred and Tena (Kelderman) Gorter, in Rock Rapids, Iowa. He grew up in Southwest Minnesota. Harold attended Edgerton Christian Grade School and graduated in 1967 from Southwest Christian High School in Edgerton, Minnesota. He went on to attend DeVry Institute of Technology in Chicago. While Harold was attending DeVry he worked at a gas station and the La Marche Plant making battery chargers. During his time in Chicago he met Ruth through mutual friends. He was united in marriage on August 30, 1974, to Ruth Ilene Wassink in Pella, Iowa. To this union they were blessed with three children: Howard, Harley, and Rachel.
He began his career at Vermeer Corporation in 1972, starting on the baler line.
He enjoyed taking his restored tractors in parades and has enjoyed several tractor rides, seeing the country at a different pace.
Harold had a strong faith.
Harold enjoyed gardening and bringing vegetables to the Marion County Fair and the Iowa State Fair. He enjoyed watching grandchildren’s activities and challenging them at games. He was “Mr. Fix-It” for anything needing repair or not. He enjoyed being outdoors and hunting – especially turkey and deer.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Ruth of nearly 48 years and their family:
Howard and Melissa (Wergin) Gorter, Sherwood, Arkansas
Lucas, Preston, Colin
Harley and Stacey (Talsma) Gorter, Clive, Iowa
Henry, Oliver, George
Rachel and David Dick, Hancock, Minnesota
Hazel, Silas, Mabel
Harold is also survived by his sister Norma Santema of Harrisburg, South Dakota, his brother-in-law Steve Bullerman of Burnsville, Minnesota, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Karen and Rod Blackford of Hartford, Iowa, and sister-in-law Greta Wassink of Carlisle, Iowa.
Those preceding him in death are his parents Fred and Tena Gorter, his parents-in-law Henry and Gertrude Wassink, his sister Beverly Bullerman, brother-in-law Bob Santema, and his nephew Kelly Feikema.
