Edwin "Ed" Dean Dokter

Edwin “Ed” Dokter, age 93, of Sioux Center, Iowa passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Crown Point Estates Care Center in Sioux Center, Iowa.

A visitation will be held from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. with burial to follow in the Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center, with military honors by the Doornink-Brunsting American Legion Post No. 199 and VFW Post No. 6129.

A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, June 14th  in Sioux Center, with Reverend Dave Smit officiating.

Edwin (Ed) Dean Dokter was born in Middleburg, IA, to Evert and Bertha (Wissink) Dokter on July 13, 1931. After his father died in a farming accident when Edwin was three years old, the family moved from the farm to Sioux Center. Edwin graduated from Sioux Center High School at age 16 in 1948. He was drafted into the US Army in 1953 and served as a Sgt and worked as a field artillery surveyor. He was awarded several medals including a Good Conduct Medal, United Nations Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

Ed worked hard his whole life. As a child, he worked on his uncle’s farm and could drive a tractor at a very young age. He also loved riding on and caring for the horses. As an adult he worked for various places as a mechanic and eventually owned several different businesses in Sioux Center.

On June 27, 1956, Ed married Adrianna DeWit, in Hull, Iowa. They made their home in Sioux Center, where they raised their 3 children. Adrianna often said that Ed saved them a lot of money over the years because he was capable of fixing anything! They served in both Bethel CRC and then Faith CRC, as founding members. Ed and Adrianna dedicated their lives to Christian education, church and family.

Ed had a knack for making the best bedtime popcorn snack, and he was unwavering about having some form of potato at least once a day, along with something sweet. He loved camping, yard work, puttering in his workshop, vacationing, hiking, birding and cross-country skiing. Ed was kind, helpful, and easy-going, with a great sense of humor. Ed rarely, if ever, complained or spoke out of anger. Adrianna loved him for that and valued those attributes in their marriage. He will be dearly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Adrianna (DeWit) Dokter of 46 years, brothers Henry John and Bernard (Bernie), sister Evelyn, an infant sister, and several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

Those who will be missing Dad, Grandpa and Great-Grandpa are daughters Sharla (Gary) Alsum and Susan (Scott) Jones, and son Jay (Kathy) Dokter. Grandchildren: Levi (Katrina), James (Stacy), Brittany, Andrew (Ashley) Alsum; Alyssa (Alex) Wells, Justin (Natalie), and John (Addy) Dokter. Great grandchildren: Jaden, Asher, Trevor, Titus and Kaylee Alsum; August and Austin Wells, Kalia, Jemma, and Boy Dokter (on-the-way).

He is survived by a brother-in-law, Walter Blom of Rock Valley, and two sisters-in-law, Betty (DeWit) VandeGriend of Hull, and Theresa (Jacobsma) DeWit of Sioux Center, along with many nieces and nephews.

As a family we would like to acknowledge and thank Aspen Heights staff in Hull; Sioux Center Health; the staff at Crown Point/Birch; Dr. Cassie Leightner, Morgan Meissner, PA, & the other staff members of the clinic; Sioux Center Hospice; Pastor Dave Smit, and the Faith CRC church family. You all showed sincere and compassionate care for Dad, and for his family. Thank you!