VanderHelm, Allen "Dutch" (1919-2008)

VANDERHELM, POPKEN, TEHAAR

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/14/2008 at 14:19:22

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, July 14, 2008

Allen "Dutch" VanderHelm, 89, of Akron, died Thursday, July 10, 2008, at the Hillcrest Health Care Center in Hawarden.

Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. today (Monday) at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Akron with the Rev. Dawn Quame officiating. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery at Akron with graveside military honors provided by the Albert E. Hoschler American Legion Post #186 of Akron. Visitation was after 2 p.m. Sunday at the Carlsen Funeral Home, Schroeder Chapel in Akron with the family present to greet friends after 5 p.m. followed by a 7 p.m. prayer service. Visitation continued Monday morning from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church.

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From: Carlsen Funeral Home Website

Allen “Dutch” VanderHelm, 89, of Akron passed away Thursday, July 10, 2008 at the Hillcrest Health Care Center in Hawarden, Iowa.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 14, 2008 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Akron with Rev. Dawn Quame officiating. Intermentwith military honors provided by the Albert E. Hoschler American Legion Post #186 of Akron will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitations will be after 2:00 p.m. Sunday, July 13, 2008 at the Carlsen Funeral Home, Schroeder Chapel in Akron with the family present to greet friends after 5:00 p.m. followed by a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service. Visitations will continue Monday morning from 9:30 a.m. until service time at the church.

Pallbearers will be Steve VanderHelm, Mark VanderHelm, Jamie VanderHelm, Nathan VanderHelm, Derek Moeller, and Kevin Eekhoff.

Allen VanderHelm was born on the family farm near Hudson, South Dakota on January 27, 1919 to Simon and Carrie (Janssen) VanderHelm. Allen attended country school. At the age of 13, his father passed away. In exchange for room and board, Dutch stayed at the Akron Hospital and helped with maintenance during the school year. In 1933 he went to live with the Harry Nelson family and began working at the Nelson Hatchery. He graduated from Akron High School in 1936. Following high school, Allen continued to work at the hatchery.

In May of 1942 he entered the U.S. Army Air Corp, 910 Signal Co. and attended school for radar repair. While in the service, Dutch spent most of his time in the China-India-Burma Theatre. He was discharged in November of 1945 at the rank of Master Sergeant.

Following his discharge, he returned to Nelson Hatchery as a partner. Dutch was united in marriage to Ramona Popken on June 12, 1949 at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Craig, Iowa.

In 1971, he became the owner of Nelson Hatchery. To many in the area, Dutch was simply known as the “chicken man”. He was active with the Iowa Poultry Association for many years. In 1992, Dutch was honored by the association as the “Poultry Man of the Year”. He loved his work, retiring in 2005 when his health began to fail.

Allen was an active member of the community having served on the Akron City Council and as Mayor. He retired as a Director of First National Bank in 1993 after 35 years of service to the bank. He was a longtime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Akron where he served on the church council and other committees as needed. He was a 50+ year member of the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Consistory, and the Shrine. Dutch was a 60+ year member of the Albert E. Hoschler American Legion Post #186 of Akron.

Dutch enjoyed fishing, golf, bowling, and vacations with family and friends. His greatest joy came from his 4 grandchildren and great grandchild.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Ramona of Akron; 2 children; James VanderHelm and Kerry Jo and her husband David Heeren all of Akron, 4 grandchildren; Jamie VanderHelm, Nathan VanderHelm, Crystal Moeller and her husband Derek, and Desiree Heeren; a granddaughter Aubri Moeller; 3 brothers; John VanderHelm of Alexandria, MN, Sam VanderHelm and his wife Shirley of Braham, MN, and Basil VanderHelm and his wife Lavina of Sioux Center, IA; 1 sister-in-law, Eileen VanderHelm of Hawarden, IA; step-sister, Bertha Sjarda and her husband Marvin of Paullina, IA; a foster brother, David Nelson and his wife Sandy of Sioux City; and many nieces and nephews.

Dutch was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers George and his wife Vivian VanderHelm and Henry VanderHelm; a sister and brother-in-law, Marie and Henry Obbink; and his step-father, John TeHaar.