June Horstman, 92, of Arnolds Park, Iowa, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at Sioux Center, Iowa.
A public visitation will held from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM on Saturday, August, 15, 2026, at the Robinson Funeral Home in Spirit Lake, IA. There will be a private funeral service for Immediate Family Only at the Robinson Funeral Home in Spirit, IA, at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Robinson Funeral Home in Spirit Lake, IA. Online condolences may be directed to www.spiritlakefuneralhome.com
June Phyllis Boone, the only child of Edward and Alice (Elgersma) Boone was born on July 2, 1934, at home on a farm near Sanborn, Iowa. At the age of 2, she moved with her parents to Sioux City so her father could attend Barber College. Melvin became home from ages 4 to 9 where her Dad started his barbering career. Once he was drafted into WWII, she and her mom moved back to Sanborn. She attended grade schools in Melvin and Sanborn and graduated from Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa. In 1948, a large family with a lot of boys moved to Sanborn and June quickly became enamored with their #4 son, Gerben Eugene. June and Gene began dating and after 2 years of courtship, married on a hot June 18 in 1953.
After a two-week honeymoon down the West Coast, June and Gene began their married life in Sanborn. A year (to the day) later, they welcomed their first daughter, Pamela Rae. She was later joined by Debra Kae, Jay Alan, and Jill Renae. Once the kids were in school, June worked at various jobs in Sanborn, her favorite being at the Sanborn Pioneer. She also worked as an Avon Rep. – a job that she enjoyed for many years. In 1999, June and Gene moved to Okoboji where they enjoyed lake life and the community at Pelican Ridge.
June had a natural talent for music. She could play the clarinet, accordion, piano, and organ. She was a church organist for over 50 years (started at age 15) and accompanied many choirs and small groups. That finger dexterity carried over into another talent – that of seamstress. June was as expert, making many matching dresses for the girls and later sewing swimsuits and bridesmaid dresses. There wasn’t much she couldn’t do at the sewing machine. But the kitchen was her place of joy. She loved trying new recipes and amassed a great collection of them. She became famous for her potato salad, deviled eggs, and cowboy cookies.
Traveling was one of June’s favorite activities. She especially enjoyed the tour bus excursions and trips to Hawaii and Switzerland with Gene. June loved to plan family vacation road trips and always made them memorable. She loved preparing for camping trips as much as the trips themselves. Fishing was another favorite activity. She would often tell the story of how she “hooked” Gene – literally. As she was casting out, the hook became imbedded in one of Gene’s nostrils – she would laugh every time she told it.
On a more serious note, June volunteered for several years at Cherished Again in Milford – a store supporting the Cherish Center for those choosing life for the unborn. In 2012, she was honored at a reception by Governor Terry Branstad where she was awarded the Iowa Governor’s Volunteer Award. She also crocheted baby hats which she donated to area hospitals for their premature newborns with a new one started just last week.
June’s interests expanded into the sports world – she was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan and later faithfully followed the Indiana Fever. Family knew not to call or stop in if there was a Hawkeye game in progress.
June loved her family dearly and loved spending time with them. She is survived by her devoted husband of 73 years, Gene, son, Jay Horstman, daughters, Debra Draayer and Jill (Dean) Kooima, seven grandchildren, Mindi, Ryan, Heidi, Paul, Paige, Jaiden, and Rilee, and seven great-grandchildren, Taya, Kia, Grace, Layla, Stella, Bennett, and Ava as well as Gene’s sister, Gertrude Visser, his brothers, Del (Marla), Virgil, Nelson (Gloria), Gary, and Bob (Glenda) and sister-in-law, Ann. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Pamela Kreykes, parents, Ed and Alice Boone, Gene’s brothers, Marion (Agnes), Gerald (Evelyn), Irvin, and Keith, brother-in-law, Ed Visser, two sisters-in-law, Joan Horstman and Florence Horstman, and Gene’s parents, Gerrit and Angeline Horstman.
Memorials can be directed to Sanborn Christian School, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, or the Ronald McDonald House in Sioux Falls, SD. Blessed be the memory of June Phyllis Horstman, a good and faithful servant and a cherished wife, mother, and grandmother.
