VanVeldhuizen, Tunis, 1896-1980

VANVELDHUIZEN, BOOTE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/31/2011 at 09:37:45

Retired Farmer Dies of Burns

Tunis Van Veldhuizen, 83, a resident of Rock Valley, died Saturday night [April 19] of burns received on the family farm three and one-half miles west of Rock Valley.

A spokesman for the family said they can only guess what happened. Van Veldhuizen was with his son Ronald who lives on the farm. They were burning trash north of the farmyard. Ronald left for a few minutes to check livestock. The fire had started before he left. When he returned he noticed that his father had become enflamed, mostly on the upper part of his body. It is not known if he tripped and fell or if he got too close to the fire and his clothing united. A gas can was setting near the fire, but did not burn, so it is assumed he was not handling the can when the accident occurred.

The Rock Valley rescue unit and fire truck were called, and Van Veldhuizen was taken to Hegg Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the First Christian Reformed Church with the Rev. Roger Bultman officiating. Burial was in Valley View Cemetery with the Porter Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Tunis Van Veldhuizen was born on May 24, 1896, at Morris, Iowa. He married Alice Boote on April 20, 1927. She died in 1962.

Survivors include two sons, Edwin and Ronald, both of Rock Valley; three daughters, Mrs. Gerrit A. (Joan) Van Maanen and Mrs. LeRoy (Elaine) Bolkema, both of Rock Valley, and Mrs. John (Claretta) Lobbes of Orange City, 16 grandchildren and one great-grandchild, Also four brothers, James of Hull, Henry of Sioux Center, and John and Gradus, both of Samborn.

Source: Rock Valley Bee, April 23, 1980.