Nina Van Dam

Nina Kay Van Dam, 66, of Cherokee, Iowa, formerly of Marcus, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at the Cherokee Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at Holy Name Catholic Church in Marcus, Iowa. Father Bill McCarthy will celebrate Mass. Burial will follow at Holy Name Cemetery in Marcus. Visitation with the family present will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at Holy Name Catholic Church with a Rosary at 9:00 a.m.

Nina Kay Van Dam was born on May 1, 1951, a special daughter of Marinus and Alma (Flisher) Van Dam. She lived with her parents until her father passed away at a young age. After that, Nina spent some years at area rehabilitation hospitals and group homes until settling in Cherokee, Iowa. In her early years, she was employed at the Cherokee Work Activity Center. Her primary jobs were converting carpet scraps to rugs and pallet production/repair.

One of Nina’s favorite things to do was drawing and sketching. She liked to have her nails painted and eat hot fudge sundaes. Her favorite song was “You Are My Sunshine” which was appropriate with her loving and upbeat personality. She currently resided at the Pride Home in Cherokee.

Grateful to have shared her life are her siblings and their spouses, Ann and Mike W. Tentinger of Remsen, Iowa, Barb and Bruce Ludwigs of Le Mars, Iowa, Nick and Theresa Van Dam of Remsen, Iowa; a sister-in-law, Mary Van Dam of Remsen, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant sister, Mary Jo; a sister, Betty Oliver and her husband, Larry “Pete” Oliver; a sister, Pat Stofferan; a brother, John Van Dam; and a brother-in-law, Alvin Singer.