VAN ENGEN, Harvey 1926-2009

VAN ENGEN, LEVERING, DEBOER

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 11/3/2009 at 10:50:10

Home Town: Rock Valley, IA
Deceased Date: Mon., Oct.12, 2009
Service: Fri., Oct. 16, 2009
Address: Trinity Christian Reformed Church
Rock Valley, IA 51247

Harvey Van Engen, 83, of Rock Valley, died Monday, October 12, 2009 at Whispering Heights, Rock Valley. Memorial Service was held Friday, October 16, at Trinity Christian Reformed Church, Rock Valley with burial at Hillside Cemetery, Doon,.

John Harvey Van Engen was born February 10, 1926 near Doon, IA, son of Fred and Ann (Levering) Van Engen. He served in the U.S. Army during WW II 1944-46. Harvey married Nellie “Nell” DeBoer on May 4, 1945 at Doon during his furlough from the service. After the war Harvey and Nell lived at Doon, Rock Valley, and Hull before moving to Inwood in 1959. They owned and operated Inwood Locker and Meat Market for 23 years where they made life long friendships. Harvey was a graduate of Western Christian High and active on various boards and later in the development department for the school’s new gym in 1980. Harv and Nell helped their sons in Van Engen’s Meats in Sioux Center from 1980-89. They moved to Sioux Falls in 1989 where they were members of Sioux Falls 1st Assembly. During this time they volunteered for the Sowers Mission Organization. Harvey and Nell moved to Rock Valley in 1999. Nell died on September 5, 2004. Harvey continued to serve in the Rock Valley community at JFA, Whispering Heights, and Trinity CRC. He lived his life serving others to God’s glory, relying on God in every circumstance, seeing God’s purposes in everything around him, and encouraging his loved ones to “Keep Looking Up.”

Surviving relatives include 4 sons: Floyd (Mary) Van Engen of Anoka, MN and their children: Hana (Josiah) Hawley, Sara, David, Stephen, and Curtis Van Engen; Bob (Joan) Van Engen of George, IA and their children: Michael and Jared Van Engen and Robbi (Jake) Bishop; Brian (Jan) Van Engen of Willmar, MN and their children: Jaci (Aaron) Feltman and Tyler Van Engen; Douglas (Brenda) Van Engen of Orange City, IA and their children: Larissa (Joel) Van Dyke, Danielle (Dan) Kuiken and Dylan Van Engen; 1 daughter, Marlys (Jay) Vander Pol of Bellevue, WA and their children Annie, Ryan (Afton) and Jeffrey Vander Pol; brother, Jim Van Engen of Rock Valley; sister, Mildred Otten of Byron Center, MI; 7 great-grandchildren: Cedar, Tori, Donyia and Latjoor Van Engen, Lauren and Anna Feltman and Cooper Vander Pol.

Harvey was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Nell; brother-in-law, John Otten; sister-in-law, Janice Van Engen.

(Porter Funeral Home obituary)