Dr. Rodney Jiskoot, age 70, of Orange City, passed away on Sunday, February 7, 2010, at the Hospice of the Valley in Mesa, Arizona.

There will be a memorial service on Saturday, February 13, at 11:00am, at the American Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. Keith Krebs and the Rev. Harlan Van Oort will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. There will be a prayer service on Saturday, at 10:00am, at the CHURCH.

Visitation with the family present will be on Friday, from 5:00pm to 8:00pm, at the CHURCH. Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

Rodney Gene was born on March 3, 1939, at Alton, the son of William H. and Anne (Van Iperen) Jiskoot. He was raised at Alton, where he graduated from high school. He then earned his Bachelor's degree at Morningside College in Sioux City.

On August 1, 1962, he married Marilyn Jean Holtrop in Sibley. They first lived in California, where he received a Master's degree from San Jose State College. In 1964, they moved to Orange City, where he became professor of music at Northwestern College. While there, he took further instruction at the Union Theological Seminary in New York and was awarded his Doctorate by the University of Colorado. He also studied in The Netherlands. He retired from Northwestern in 2000.

In 1985, Rod and Marilyn built the Dutch Colony Inn in Orange City, which they operated for many years.

He was a member of the American Reformed Church, where he served as organist for 45 years. At the age of fourteen he started playing the organ for church services. He was an active member of Orange City's Dutch Store Front Committee and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and at the Orange City Area Health System Hospital.

Although teaching was Dr. Jiskoot's passion, he also had many other interests, including carpentry, woodworking, drawing, and flower gardening. He and Marilyn traveled extensively and spent several winters in Arizona. He loved nature and enjoyed going camping with his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of more than 47 years; a son and his wife, Doug and Karen Jiskoot, of Larchwood; a daughter and her husband, Brenda and Bobby Geisinger, of Lawton; five grandchildren, Brian and Todd Jiskoot; and Serena, Tonya, and Lucas Geisinger; and four brothers, Wilmer Jiskoot, of George; Sidney Jiskoot, and his wife, Lorraine, of Sioux Center; The Rev. Donald Jiskoot, of Montgomery, Alabama; and Allen Jiskoot, and his wife, Dolly, of Sheldon; and Marilyn's family, her mother, Mary Holtrop, of Fulda, Minnesota; two brothers-in-law, Andrew Holtrop, and his wife, Glenda, of Fulda; and Eugene Holtrop, of Sibley; and a sister-in-law and her husband, Marcia and Ron Baumgard, of Fulda; and several nephews and nieces.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister-in-law, Rose Jiskoot; and Marilyn's father, Fred Holtrop.

Memorials may be directed to the Dr. Rodney Jiskoot Scholarship Fund at the Northwestern College music department.