Den Hartog, Harold R. – 1924–2011

BUNSE, DEN HARTOG, DYKSTRA, HANNA, HARRENSTEIN, HOFFERT, POTHOVEN, RUTTER, SHERLOCK, STEENHOEK, VAN ROEKEL, VER PLOEG, ZWAK

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 2/1/2011 at 14:15:31

Harold R. Den Hartog, 86, of Pella, Iowa, passed away Sunday morning, Jan. 9, 2011, at Jefferson Place in Pella.
Harold was pastor of the Metz Community Church in Newton for 22 years. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn (Dykstra) Den Hartog of Pella, and their four children, Ronald Den Hartog and wife, Judy, of Sioux Center, Iowa, Eileen Den Hartog of Sully, Iowa, Larry Den Hartog and wife, Karen, of Fon du Lac, Wis., and Brent Den Hartog and wife, Michelle, of Rochester, Minn.
A funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2011, at the First Reformed Church, Pella. Interment will be made in the Evergreen Cemetery at Leighton, Iowa. Visitation will begin Tuesday afternoon at the Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella. Visitation with the family present will be Tuesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the First Reformed Church.
The family would prefer memorials be given to the Harold Den Hartog Memorial Fund for Alzheimer’s Support.
Source: Newton Daily News; Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Additional information from Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home website:
Harold Roy Den Hartog was the first of two sons that were born to Henry and Anna (Van Roekel) Den Hartog. Harold was born on June 11, 1924, near Leighton, Iowa where he received an 8th grade education at the Black Oak No. 6 Country School.
Harold first met his wife to be, Evelyn Ruth Dykstra, while in kindergarten. On August 21, 1945, they were united in marriage at the home of her parents, Tunis and Martha (Ver Ploeg) Dykstra, near Leighton. Harold and Evelyn farmed near Oskaloosa, Iowa for over 20 years where they began raising their four children: Ronald Lee, Eileen Ruth, Larry Jay and Brent Ray.
In 1966 Harold hesitantly responded to a series of promptings to pastor Metz Community Church for a few months near Newton, Iowa. The months turned to years and in 1968 Harold and Evelyn ceased their farming and moved to Newton. Harold pastored Metz Community Church while also working at Sersland Furniture Store. Pastoring the church along with the support of his wife, Evelyn, later became their fulltime ministry. They retired in 1988 after 22 years of service. Harold and Evelyn then moved to Pella, Iowa where they continued their ministry in service for the Lord.
In September of 2005, Harold became a resident at Jefferson Place in Pella where he passed away Sunday morning, January 9, 2011. Harold leaves his wife of 65 years, Evelyn, and their four children and their families. They are: Ronald and Judy (Steenhoek) Den Hartog of Sioux Center, IA, Michele Den Hartog and her fiancé, Aaron Zwak of Sioux Falls, SD, Brenda and Roger Sherlock of Hinton, IA, Justin, Brittany, Mitchell Eileen Den Hartog of Sully, IA; Larry and Karen (Bunse) Den Hartog of Fond du Lac, WI, Laura and Larry Hoffert of Westboro, WI, Lisa and Bryan Harrenstein of Appleton, WI; Brent and Michelle (Rutter) Den Hartog of Rochester, MN, Kirsten, Brandon, Micaela. Harold leaves his brother, Melvin Den Hartog and his wife, Betty, of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and the following brother-in-law and sisters-in-law: Marcene (Dykstra) Hanna of University Park, Iowa and Virgil and Marlene Dykstra of Pella, Iowa.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, his parents-in-law, and the following brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Elmer and Viola (Dykstra) Pothoven and Ervin Hanna. Harold was a faithful servant to the Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa and the First Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa. He shared his gifts willingly and generously during his life of 86 years.