Geraldine Anna (Walcott) Van Kooten, 93 years of age, of Hays, passed away Saturday, February 28, 2015 at Hays Good Samaritan. She was born on March 26, 1921 in Prairie View, Kansas to the late George and Anna (DeYoung) Walcott. Geraldine was Baptized and made Profession of Faith at the Prairie View Reformed Church, Prairie View. She attended grade school at Rock Island and Buffalo Country Schools. Upon graduation in 1939 from Almena High School, she attended Ft. Hays State University for one and one-half years and earned a teaching certificate that allowed her the opportunity of teaching at the following schools: Bethel Country School (1941-1943), Hays Country School (1943-1944), and Almena seventh & eighth grades (l944-1947). Geraldine later served as a substitute teacher for the Long Island and Northern Valley School Districts.

On June 16, 1944, Geraldine married Bernard Van Kooten at the Reformed Church in Prairie View, Kansas and became a farmer's wife, residing in the Long Island, Kansas community for 50 years. In 1944, she became a member of the Luctor Christian Reformed Church and kept her membership there until her death. Geraldine was a founder and lifetime member of the Long Island American Legion Auxiliary (304 Roy C. Goodrich). She was also made an honorary member of the Long Island High School FFA, a member of the Northern Valley Booster Club, and a lifetime member of the Phillipsburg Fort Bissell Historical Society. In l994, Bernard and Geraldine moved to Hays, Kansas.

Geraldine is survived by three daughters: Connie Heersink (and her husband, Norman, of Plano, Texas, and their five children: Lorie Dahl and husband, Tim of Valdosta, Georgia; Renee Jones and husband, Cody, of Kalispell, Montana; Nathan Heersink and wife, Jordan, of McKinney, Texas; Carla Sullivan and husband, Jeff, of Richardson, Texas; and Aaron Heersink of Plano, Texas); Laverne Miller (and husband, Kenneth, of Wellington, Kansas, and their two sons: Ryan Miller and wife, Erin, of Spring Hill, Kansas; and Darin Miller and wife, Rosalind, of Andover, Kansas); Rhonda Meyerhoff (and husband, Dan, of Hays, Kansas, and their three children: Lance Meyerhoff and wife, Allison, of Hays, Kansas; Kurt Meyerhoff and wife, Ashlee, of Great Bend, Kansas; and Anna Meyerhoff of Wichita, Kansas); 12 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Anna Walcott; husband, Bernard Van Kooten; sister, Velma Halderman; and three brothers, Eldred, Wallace, and Melvin Walcott.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 5, at 1:30 p.m. in the Luctor Christian Reformed Church, Phillips County, KS with Pastor Aaron Rust officiating. Burial will follow in the Long Island Cemetery, Long Island, KS.

Mrs. Van Kooten will lie in-state on Tuesday from 5–9 p.m. and Wednesday from 9 a.m.–9 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel in Phillipsburg. The family will greet friends Wednesday evening from 6 – 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Luctor Christian Reformed Church or the Wounded Warrior Project.