Alva Joan Sikkema

Alva Joan Sikkema, age 85, of Carroll, IA, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 26, 2023 at her home surrounded by her family.

Funeral services will be held at 11 A.M. on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at Carroll First Assembly of God Church with Pastor Dave Hagen officiating.  Burial will be in the Carroll City Cemetery.

Visitation will be held at Carroll First from 9:30 – 10:45 A.M. on Wednesday prior to the service.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Dahn and Woodhouse Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for the family at www.dahnandwoodhouse.com

In lieu of flowers, Alva requested memorials be made to the New Hope Village Foundation online at: https://newhopevillage.org/foundation/ or left with the funeral home or at the church.

Alva was born on December 31, 1937 in Morrison, IL.  She was the daughter of Jacob and Nellie (Barsema) Pruis.  She grew up on a farm near Morrison and attended a one room school house through eighth grade and then furthered her education through the Morrison Schools.  On July 27, 1956 Alva was united in marriage to Vernon “Doc” Sikkema at Christian Reform Church in Fulton, IL.  Doc and Alva raised their four children: Michael, Kimberly, Steven, and Melissa in Fulton until 1972 when the family relocated to Carroll with General Electric.  Alva was a stay at home wife and mother until 1977 when she began her career with the Carroll Community School District.  She was affectionately known as the “Lunch Ticket Lady” for 19 years.  After leaving the school district, Alva completed her career at American Home Shield for 18 years until retirement.  She was a member of Carroll First Assembly of God Church. Alva’s faith in God played a very big part in her life.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend.

Alva is survived by her husband Vernon “Doc” Sikkema of 67 years of Carroll; her four children and their families: Michael Sikkema of Carroll, Kimberly Sikkema of Carroll, Steven Sikkema of Carroll, and Melissa Creech (Herschel) of Kansas City, MO; four grandchildren: Angie Owen (Ryan) of Carroll, Ryan Sikkema (Kelsey) of Marion, IA, Mitchell Sikkema of Carroll, and Katelyn Wellington (Cody) of Papillion, NE; three great-grandchildren: Kyla, Cruze, and Mason; two brothers: Larry Pruis (Janet) of Michigan and Warren Pruis (Marcia) of Morrison, IL; two sisters-in-law Jeannine Katje of Martin, MI and Eileen Pruis of Thompson, IL; and several nieces and nephews.

Alva was preceded in death by her parents Jacob and Nellie Pruis; her father and mother-in-law Peter and Daisy Sikkema; a sister Lois Yarbrough; a brother Harry Pruis; and a daughter-in-law Diane Sikkema.