Veldhuis, Henry Dr. 1938-2002

VELDHUIS, VEENSTRA, HARTOG

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/7/2010 at 07:33:21

Dr. HENRY VELDHUIS
SHELDON. Iowa - Dr. Henry Veldhuis, 63, of Sheldon died Sunday, March 24, 2002, at
Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Services will be 10:30 am. Thursday at Bethel Reformed Church in Sheldon, with the Rev. Brian Keepers officiating. Burial will be in East Lawn Cemetery. Visitation will be after 2 p.m. today. with the family present 6:30 to 8 p.m., at Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon.
Dr. Gerrit Hendrik "Henry" Veidhuis, the son of Berend Jan and Siepkje (Veenstra) Veldhuis, was born Dec. 29, 1938, in Almelo, Overijssel. Netherlands. He immigrated with his parents to Alton, Iowa, at the age of 14. Henry attended school in Alton and graduated from Alton High School in 1957. He furthered his education by graduating from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, in 1961. On Aug. 11, 1961, he was united in marriage to Janice F Hartog at American Reformed Church in Orange City. The young couple made their home in Sheldon, where Henry started his teaching career. He taught at Sheldon High School from 1966 to 1996. In 1966, he received his master’s degree in physics from the University of Idaho. He taught physics at Northwestern College from 1967 to 1968, and from 1972 until the present. He also earned his doctorate in physics education from Iowa State University in 1986.
He was an active member at Bethel Reformed Church, where he currently was an elder. He was a member of Iowa Academy of Science, the National Science Teachers Association, and the American Association at Physics Teachers. He had been Teacher of the Year at Northwestern College, received the Excellence in the Teaching of Chemistry Award and the Excellence in the Teaching of Physics Award. He enjoyed antique cars, reading, swimming, hiking and loved visiting with people. Henry leaves to cherish his memories. his wife, Janice: two daughters and
their husbands, Angela and Jeff DeVries of Sheldon, and Alison and Joel Sterk of Belle Plaine. Minn.: six grandchildren, Christopher, John and Anne Marie DeVries and Schuyler, Noah and Anneka Sterk; a brother and his wife, the Rev. Stephen and Ann Veldhuis of Pella, Iowa; and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Donna Beth Veldhuis: and a sister. Minnie Scholten.
Source: Local newspaper after 3-24-2002