A funeral service for Edwin W. “Ed” Visser was held Saturday, Nov. 7, 2020, at the Sanborn Christian Reformed Church in Sanborn. Pastor Phillip Westra officiated.

Pallbearers were Troy Bouma, Paxton Bouma, Justin Hoekstra, Brian Visser, Scott Horstman and Jay Visser. Honorary pallbearers were Jim Van Dyke, Shane Davis, Lee Van Tol, Dave Hofman, Jerry Buteyn and Bob Oldenkamp, and Ed’s great-grandchildren: Kaeden Bouma, Aftyn Hoekstra, Gaige Bouma, Tucker Hoekstra, Madyx Bouma, Emrie Hoekstra and Kendyl Hoekstra. Interment was in Roseland Cemetery at Sanborn. Sanborn Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Edwin Wayne Visser, son of Bert and Elizabeth (Van Oort) Visser, was born on May 10, 1938 at Orange City. As a child he lived on a farm near Middleburg and at the age of 11 moved to Sanborn. He attended Orange City Christian School and Sanborn Christian School. As a teenager he worked at Aardema Tile & Cement Work.

On Aug. 15, 1957, Ed was united in marriage to Gertrude Horstman. Together they lived in Sanborn and raised their son, Mike. Ed worked as a milk hauler for O’Brien County Co-op Creamery in Sanborn (now AMPI). In 1962, he started Visser Brothers’ Excavating business with his brother, Marvin “Spud”. In 2005, his son Mike took over the business and Ed worked with him until his health no longer allowed.

Ed was a member of the Christian Reformed Church in Sanborn where he acted as both a deacon and elder, as well as sitting on the Sanborn Christian School board. Ed was also very involved with the city of Sanborn. He served as a city council member for 32 years, the Sanborn Fire Department for 30 years, Sanborn Funeral Home board, Northwest Iowa Landfill board, and the Sanborn Improvement and Sanborn Housing boards. Wherever he was serving Ed was a man of integrity, always striving to be fair and honest to all he worked for.

His family was his pride and joy. He loved and cherished his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed going to their many activities where he was able to watch them grow to love the Lord and serve Him with their many talents. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing, golfing and driving trucks, and he especially enjoyed them when he was able to be with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Ed passed away at his home, surrounded by his family, on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, at the age of 82 years, five months and 25 days.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 63 years, Gertrude “Gertie” Visser; his son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Judy Visser, of Sanborn; his grandchildren: Tanya (Troy) Bouma, of Pella, and Mandy (Justin) Hoekstra, of Hull; his great-grandchildren: Paxton, Kaeden, Gaige and Madyx Bouma, of Pella, and Aftyn, Tucker, Emrie and Kendyl Hoekstra, of Hull; his sisters-in-law: Glenda Visser and Judy Visser, both of Sanborn; his brothers-in-law: Gerald Horstman, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Gene (June) Horstman, of Arnolds Park; Keith (Ann) Horstman, of Belmont, Mich.; Del (Marla) Horstman, of Omaha, Neb.; Virg (Joan) Horstman, of Hull; Nelson (Gloria) Horstman, of Indiantown, Fla.; Gary (Florence) Horstman, of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and Bob (Glenda) Horstman, of Inwood; and his many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Douglas Jay; infant twin daughters, Linda and Lorna; his parents, Bert and Elizabeth Visser; and step-dad, Charlie Aardema; his brothers: Ivan, John, Marvin and Bernard; sister-in-law, Judy Visser; father and mother-in-law, Gerrit and Angeline Horstman; brothers-in-law: Marion Horstman and Irv Horstman; sisters-in-law: Agnes Horstman, Elsie Horstman, Evelyn Horstman and Marlene White; nephews: Glenn Visser and Randi Horstman; and niece, Pam Kreykes.