Van Rheenen, Irvin John 1942-2013

VAN RHEENEN, DE COOK, VAN GORP, REDSHAW, VAN MAANEN, VAN GORP, VENEMA, VAN WYK

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 10/29/2015 at 09:11:01

Irvin John Van Rheenen
Pella

Irvin John Van Rheenen was born August 10, 1942, to John L. and Mary Irene De Cook Van Rheenen in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He passed away Thursday morning, January 3, 2013, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House at the age of seventy.

Irvin grew up on a farm south of Pella. He graduated from Pella Community High School and Omaha Trade School. In 1963, Irvin joined the Army National Guard and was stationed at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri for six months, then was moved to San Antonio, Texas.

On November 6, 1964, he was united in marriage with Ethel Van Gorp in Pella, Iowa. They were blessed with three children: Carol, John, and Chad.

Irvin began his working career with Van Haaften Plumbing and Heating. In 1969, he started his own plumbing, heating, and cooling business, Van Rheenen, Inc. He retired in 2007 after 38 years. His son Chad is continuing the business.

He liked to find out how things worked and tried to invent things to make a job easier. Irvin will be remembered as honest, hardworking, and being fair to his customers. He and Ethel enjoyed traveling, camping, southern gospel music, and playing cards with family and friends.

He made profession of faith at the Ebenezer Reformed Church in Leighton, Iowa. He was a member of the Trinity Reformed Church in Pella for 48 years.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Ethel; his three children and their spouses, Carol and Galen Redshaw of Johnston, Iowa, John and Michelle Van Rheenen of Marion, Iowa, and Chad and Alissa Van Rheenen of Pella, Iowa; seven grandchildren, Brenden, Cameron, Brooke Redshaw, Timothy, Abigail, Kaitlyn Van Rheenen, and Anna Joy Van Rheenen; his brother, Henry (Donna) Van Rheenen; and sister, Mary (Duane) Van Maanen; his mother-in-law, Edith Van Gorp; his brother-in-law, Dennis (Mary) Van Gorp; and sister-in-law, Nancy (Cornel) Venema.

Irvin was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, Peter Irvin; his sister, Becky; brother-in-law, Gene Van Wyk; and father-in-law, Edward Van Gorp.

Irvin will always be admired for his positive attitude and faith during a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, January 8, 2013, at Trinity Reformed Church in Pella. Visitation will begin at Noon on Monday at the Garden Chapel Funeral Home with family present 5 to 7 p.m. Burial will take place in the Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/desmoinesregister/obituary.aspx?pid=162148209#sthash.71JJ95Sa.dpuf ~ The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa Sun 6 Jan 2013.