EERKES, Rodney, 69, life long Washington resident passed away at the family home west of Mount Vernon Saturday, October 25, 1997. He was born in Oak Harbor June 2, 1928, the son of Riekele and Cora Koetje Eerkes. He started his education there and moved with the family to Mount Vernon in 1941. He finished his schooling in Mount Vernon and started working in farming and later farmed himself raising potatoes and flower bulbs and was united in marriage to Carmen Brandstrom in Burlington July 4, 1950. He also worked later for the Koetje Lime Company and later worked for a number of years for the Erwin Eerkes Contracting firm as heavy equipment operator. He retired in 1983. Mr. Eerkes enjoyed the outdoors in hunting, fishing, gardening, camping and had tagged perfect 5 point elk in Eastern Washington in 1975. He enjoyed collecting antique bottles and also was a rock hound. He was well known for his neighborly and generous way being a quiet, friendly man. He was baptized in the Christian Reformed Church in Oak Harbor and was a member of the International Operating Engineer's Union local #302. Survivors are his wife Carmen at the family home; 1 daughter, Cindy Eerkes of Bothell; 1 son and daughter-in-law Steve and Debbie Eerkes of Mount Vernon; 2 sisters and brothers-in-law, Arlene and Marion Clizbe and Augusta and Ernie Andriff all of Bellingham; 1 brother and sister-in-law, Roy and Sheila Eerkes of Mount Vernon; 4 grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and other close family members. His parents, a brother Erwin and sister Marilyn have preceded him in death. Funeral services will be held at the Kern Funereal Chapel, Mount Vernon, at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, October 29, 1997 with cremation to follow the services at the Mount Vernon Crematory. Inurnment will be at his favorite hunting grounds in Eastern Washington. Mr. Eerkes will lie in state for viewing at the Kern Funeral Chapel from 9 a.m. through the services Wednesday, October 29, 1997.
