VanVeldhuizen, Edwin Loren, 1938-1989

VANVELDHUIZEN, VANSLOTEN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/31/2011 at 09:01:36

Edwin Loren Van Veldhuizen, 51, of rural Hull died Saturday, May 20 of injuries suffered in a tractor-train accident south of Doon.
Services were held in the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley Tuesday with the Rev. C. Eric Fennema officiating. Burial was in Valley View Cemetery in Rcok Valley with the Porter Funeral Home in charge.

Mr. Van Veldhuizen was born Jan. 29, 1938, in Rock Valley, He married Winifred Eileen Van Sloten Dec. 1, 1959, at Hull. The couple farmed in the rural Hull area. Since 1970 he was a bus driver for the Rock Valley Community School. Mr. Van Veldhuizen was a member of the First Christian Reformed Chrch and the Farm Bureau.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Larry at home and his fiance, Paige Siebrands of Doon; three daughters, Mrs. Brad (Lorna) Kraayenbrink of Sheldon, Mrs. Dave (Sandi) Wallenburg of Inwood and Mrs. Bruce (Mary) Wiersma of Orange City; a brother, Ronald of Rock Valley; three sisters, Mrs. Gerrit A. (Joann) Van Maanen and Mrs. Leroy (Elaine) Bolkema, both of Rock Valley and Mrs. John (Claretta) Lobbes of Orange City; and four grandchildren, Joshua Kraayenbrink, Melissa and Dustin Wallenburg and Angela Wiersma.

Source: Sioux County Index (Hull), May 24, 1989.

The obituary was also published in several other area newspapers.

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An article in the Sioux County Capital (June 1, 1989) describes the accident:

A northbound Burlington Northern freight train recently struck and killed Edwin Van Veldhuizen, 51, an area farmer, who was driving a tractor across a railroad crossing near his home. Van Veldhuizen was traveling east on the gravel, pulling a disk behind his International tractor. He attempted to cross the railroad tracks just southeast of Doon. Crew members of the oncoming freight tried to brake when spotting the tractor on the tracks, but struck the rear tires. The tractor was broken in half and the disk torn loose. Van Veldhuizen was thrown from the cab and was pronounced dead at the scene.