SCHOON, Henry George 1919-2012

SCHOON, TIESZEN, SCHOON, BOEKOUT, ELIAS

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/30/2012 at 09:04:24

Rev. Henry Schoon

September 3, 1919 - July 22, 2012

Henry George Schoon, son of John and Martha Schoon, was born on September 3, 1919 on the family farm east of George, Iowa. Henry spent his childhood and youth on the farm, attending rural schools and high school in George. He attended Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa and Central College in Pella, Iowa.

Henry received his training for the ministry at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. After Henry's graduation he was united in marriage to Ruth Tieszen on August 30, 1945 in Marion, South Dakota. Henry pastored churches at Aplington and Boyden, Iowa, Lennox, Mitchell, and Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Henry's last pastorate was at First Reformed Church in Sioux Falls. Henry was a member of the Sioux Falls Ministerial Association for many years. He also served for a number of years as a night chaplain at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Henry had a special interest in working with older persons. He was involved for many years with workshops and seminars related to aging issues under the sponsorship of the Senior Citizens Center of Sioux Falls. Henry was a member of the American Association of Retired Persons, the Center for Active Generations, and the Prestige Plus program. Henry and his wife organized and initiated a reminiscing program at the Senior Center in Sioux Falls, which they conducted for 16 years. Henry was also instrumental in helping to form an ecumenical retired clergy group which until recently met for monthly meetings.

Henry's family was very important to him. He treasured time spent with his children and grandchildren. In the 1970s Henry and his wife Ruth made a decision to purchase a small cottage on the north shore of Spirit Lake in northwest Iowa. This marked the beginning of many family gatherings at the cabin. Through time spent on cabin "projects" as well as swimming, fishing, numerous games of "I Spy", rides to look for deer, and visiting together, Henry and his family deepened their relationships and their love for each other.

Henry will be remembered by his family for his faithfulness to God and the proclaiming of His Word, his precise attention for detail, and his wonderful sense of humor.

Henry is survived by his wife, Ruth; his children: Mark (Ruth) of Wayzata, Minnesota; Susan (Rev. Dan Haggar) of Rock Rapids, Iowa; his daughter-in-law: Eva Schoon of Kentwood, Michigan; 9 grandchildren: Sara (Leo) Blandford of Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Matthew (Diana) Clarady of Lebanon, Tennessee; Jessica Clarady of Grand Rapids, Michigan; Erik Schoon of Cape Cod, Massachusetts; Rebecca (Scott) VanderWerf of Maplewood, Minnesota; Rachel Schoon of Hopkins, Minnesota; Reuben Haggar of Beijing, China; Christina Haggar of Omaha, Nebraska; and Michael Haggar of St. Paul, Minnesota; three great-grandchildren: Hailey, Annika, and Brookelynn Clarady of Lebanon, Tennessee; one sister: Frances Boekhout of Sibley, Iowa.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents, his son David, his sister Angeline Elias, and two brothers-in-law, Ben Elias and Peter Boekhout. Memorials may be directed to Hope Haven, Rock Valley, Iowa and to First Reformed Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, July 27, 2012 at First Reformed Church in Sioux Falls. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 pm Thursday at Heritage Funeral Home. Internment will take place at the Tieszen Cemetery, Marion, South Dakota.

Source: Heritage Funeral Home, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.