Carol Gladys Boote, age 98, passed away on Sunday, January 26, 2025.
She was born in Hull, Iowa on January 12, 1927, to George and Cynthia Bartels Meerdink, one of seven children. She grew up in Hull and graduated from Hull High School in 1945, then went on to teach in a one-room country school and also in Maurice, Iowa, while going to summer school at Westmar College, Le Mars, Iowa and later Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois.
Carol married Clarence W. Boote on June 9, 1949, and joined him in farming the family farm 3 ½ miles south of Hull. She is survived by her five children: Brenda (Donald) De Bruyn, Two Rivers, WI; Carey (Sue) Boote, Mt. Pleasant, SC; Cathy Boote, Holland, MI; Daniel (Mary) Boote, Deerfield, IL (and Holland, MI); and Evan (Nancy) Boote, Holland, MI. Also, eight grandchildren: Jillian (Brian) Parsons, John Boote, and Jacqui (Ed) Alfriend; Matthew (Ellie), Luke (Martha Precup) and Lydia Boote; and Cameron (Hannah) and Ethan Boote, as well as ten great-grandchildren: Megan and Colin Parsons, Avery and James Alfriend, Isaac and Emma Boote, Benjamin and Everett Boote, and Naomi and Hayden Boote. She is also survived by a sister-in-law, Harriet Boote, as well as numerous nephews and nieces.
Carol was a supportive and active farmer’s wife, providing meals for family and farm workers, canning produce from her garden, freezing quantities of sweet corn from the field, and helping with the milking of the registered Holsteins when the children were away at college. She was a 4-H leader, a WeightWatchers lecturer, and a Mary Kay consultant. Carol was involved with Reformed Church Women’s Ministries and participated in Triennial conferences.
After moving off the farm, she and Clarence lived in Orange City, Iowa, where they were active in the American Reformed Church, and Carol worked part-time at two retail shops, while Clarence continued with farming by helping his nephews with planting and harvesting. They also were able to travel to the Middle East along with Reformed Church members and enjoyed connecting with Donald and Eloise Bosch in Oman.
In 2009, after celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary, they relocated to Holland, Michigan, living at a senior residential facility, Freedom Village. Clarence passed away on December 26, 2012. Carol continued to live at Freedom Village and enjoyed an active life with fellow residents and always welcomed visits by her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.
As part of her passion and desire to serve Jesus, through her entire life Carol was committed to Bible study and prayer, and with a generous heart ministered through words of encouragement to many.
Carol was preceded in death by her six siblings: Wilbur, Peter, Leona, Grace, Robert, and Capt. George Meerdink, Jr. and a great-grandson, Micah Boote. Also, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Harriet Meerdink, Geneva Meerdink, Herman Boote, Glennys Meerdink, Diane Meerdink, Donald and Marilyn Boote, John and Hermina Boote, Dr. Edwin Boote, Elsie and John Koele, and Christina and Bill Rens.
Gratitude is expressed to the staff and caregivers at the Inn at Freedom Village, where Carol lived for the past three years.
Cremation has taken place. Visitation is planned for 2:00pm Saturday, May 17, 2025, in the 6th Floor Auditorium at Freedom Village, 145 Columbia Ave., Holland. A Celebration of Life service will follow at 3:00pm followed by a reception from 4:00-5:00pm. A committal service and burial, along with Clarence’s remains, is scheduled for 1:00pm Saturday, August 9, 2025, in Hope Cemetery, Hull, Iowa, followed by a reception from 2:00-4:00pm in Westside Park also in Hull.
Memorial contributions may be made to Words of Hope: https://www.woh.org/donate/ or to Alzheimer’s Association: https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate.
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