Klein Henry A. 1916-2009

KLEIN, VER PLOEG, VAN REES, DE WIT

Posted By: Ernie Braida (email)
Date: 1/12/2010 at 21:16:07

Henry Anthony Klein was born on May 2, 1916, in Pella, Iowa. He was the third of five children born to Anthony G. and Pauline Ver Ploeg Klein.

Henry graduated from Pella Public High School at Pella in 1935. While in high school he lettered all four years in basketball and as a senior played the part of the Burgemeester in the operetta about Tulip Time in Holland. This operetta was such a success that it started the annual “Tulip Time” in Pella.

Following his graduation from high school, Henry worked in the venetian blind department at the Rolscreen Company to earn money to attend the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1937 he was hired by the International Harvester Company in Des Moines where he was employed in the Accounting Department and as a Farm Equipment Stock Supervisor.

On October 14, 1938, he was united in marriage with Esther De Wit, a daughter of Martin G. and Gertrude M. Van Rees De Wit, at the parsonage of the First Reformed Church in Pella. To this union two daughters were born: Karen Louise and Eileen Kay.

Following their marriage, Henry and Esther located in Des Moines where he continued his employment with International Harvester. In 1944 Henry was given the opportunity to start his own International Harvester Store in Pella at which time they moved back to Pella. Henry and his brother-in-law, Jake De Ronde, started their first store in downtown Pella and in 1959 Henry built a new store north of Pella. After 42 years of business in Agricultural and Motor Truck Sales and Service in Pella, Henry sold the business and retired.

During this time Henry was elected to the first International Harvester Dealer Council and was elected to the Iowa Retail Farm Equipment Association Board and served as its President in 1976.

Henry was always very involved in the church and with community service. He served on the building committee for the First Reformed Church that was built in 1953. He had served as a Deacon and an Elder, Sunday school teacher and choir member. He was Treasurer for the Pella Classis of the Reformed Church for 25 years as well as a member of the Church Planning and Development Committee and Executive Committee.

Henry served on the first Board of Directors of the Pella Community Hospital during its planning and financing stage of development and was Chairman of the Building Committee during the hospital’s construction period.

Henry served as President of the Christian Opportunity Center Board of Directors and the Hilltop Manor Board of Directors in Pella. For 11 years Henry served on the Pine Rest Christian Hospital Board of Directors in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He served on the South Central Mental Health Board of Directors for Marion, Mahaska and Keokuk Counties and was President for 3 years.

In 1984, Henry was honored by the Community Mental Health Centers Association of Iowa, Inc. of Des Moines for his unique and sustaining contribution to the Community Mental Health Center movement in Iowa. “Hank” furnished Farmall tractors and International Scouts for many years to pull the Pella Rotary Club tour wagons during Pella’s Tulip Time and for this contribution was given an honorary Rotary Club membership. “Hank” also worked closely with the Pella High School Vocational Agriculture teachers in providing equipment, demonstrations and presentations. For this contribution he was named an honorary member of the Pella Chapter of the FFA. For all his contributions he was very honored to receive the Pella Community Service Award in 1987.

Henry and Esther enjoyed 62 years of married life together. They lived in their home on Columbus Street in Pella until moving into their new condominium in 1994. They enjoyed their retirement together and on May 10, 2001, Esther passed away at the age of 85 years.

Henry moved into Vriendschap Village at Pella in 2003 and became a resident at the West Ridge Nursing & Rehab Center at Knoxville, Iowa in 2004. He suffered from Parkinson’s disease for several years, but never complained.

Late Friday evening, March 6, 2009, he passed away there at the advanced age of 92 years, 10 months and 4 days.

Those left to cherish his memory are his two daughters and their husbands, one grandson and two granddaughters and their spouses, four great-grandsons and two great-granddaughters. They are: Karen and James Venhuizen of Idaho Falls, Idaho; and Eileen and David Vanden Baard of Altoona, Iowa.

Of his original family, Henry leaves his sister, Esther (Virgil) Boot of Pella. He was preceded in death by his wife, Esther; his parents, Anthony and Pauline Klein; his parents-in-law, M.G. and Gertrude De Wit; three sisters and their husbands: Lavina and Alfred Vander Werff, Lucille and Jacob De Ronde, Almira and Rev. Cornie Reynen; his brother-in-law, Virgil Boot; and the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Florence (De Wit) and Dick J. Ver Meer, Raymond and Gladys De Wit.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery at Pella

Van Dyk- Duven Funeral Home