Lois Alexander

Lois Arlene Alexander, was born January 5, 1943, to Clifford and Artie (Veerman) Van Arkel, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Clifford passed away when Lois was young, and she was raised by her mother and her stepfather Otto Van Roekel, Sr.

Lois grew up in Oskaloosa and attended schools there. In 1961, Lois married Bob Leydens.  To this union they were blessed with two children: a daughter, Gayle and a son, Dana.  They later divorced and she married Reverend Walter Alexander, Sr. in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  Together they made their home in Marietta, Georgia, for many years, where Lois was very involved in their church. After Walter’s passing, Lois moved to Pella in 2018.  She enjoyed re-connecting with family and friends after moving back to Pella. Her friends became family. Throughout her career, Lois was an officer manager at various places, worked for a department store and a brokerage firm.  In her younger years, Lois enjoyed gardening and yard work. She was a cat lover and took care of many cats in the neighborhood. Lois loved to laugh, and always had fun!  She also enjoyed swimming, skating, and painting.  

Those left to cherish her memory are her children and their families:

            Gayle and Verle Van Gorp of Knoxville

                        Amy (Shane) Jones

                                    Jackson Jones

                        Adam (Lauren) Van Gorp

                                    Reagan, Macy, Peyton, Tucker, Bentley Van Gorp

            Dana and Lucia Leydens of Otley

Step-children and families:

            Walt and Laurie Alexander, Jr.

            Tamara Alexander

            Jackie and Taty Alexander

Lois is also survived by her siblings: Jolene Peterson of Lincoln, Nebraska, Cecelia Van Roekel of Oskaloosa, Wayne Van Roekel of Oskaloosa, and many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Walter Alexander Sr., her parents Clifford and Artie Van Arkle and Otto Van Roekel Sr., and her siblings: Robert Peterson, John Van Roekel, Dorothy (John) De Groot, and Otto Van Roekel, Jr.; and her nephew Scott Van Roekel. 

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