Van Voorst, Alvin James, 1949-1978

VANVOORST, SMIT, VANDERWEIDE

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/21/2011 at 07:01:08

From the Sioux Center News, October 25, l978:

Hull--Mr. Alvin Van Voorst, 28, of Hull, died Sunday night, Oct. 22, in a traffic accident near Onieda, Iowa.

Services will be 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 26, at the First Reformed Church of Hull. The Rev. Herman Van Galen will officiate the services. Burial will be at the Hope Cemetary in Hull under the direction of Kraai Funeral Home of Hull.

Mr. Van Voorst was born November, 22, 1949. He is survived by his wife, Audrey, a daughter, Anita Lyn, and a son, Eric Alan. He is also survived by three sisters and five brothers, parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Van Voorst of Sioux Center, and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Tunis Vander Weide.

* * * * * * * * * *

From the Alton Democrat, November 1, 1978:

Alvin James Van Voorst, 28, Hull, died Oct. 22 in a truck accident near Casey. Services were held Thursday in the First Reformed Church at Hull. The Rev. Herman Van Galen officiated. Burial was in Hope Cemetery.

Mr. Van Voorst was born Nov. 22, 1949, at Le Mars. He married Audrey Smit Feb. 23, 1971, at Hull. He was a member of the American Reformed Church and the American Legion Post 380 of Hull. He was a veteran of the Viet Nam conflict.

Survivors include the widow; one daughter, Anita Lynn and one son, Eric Allan, both at home; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Van Voorst of Sioux Center; three sisters, Mrs. Alvin (Lois) Zommer, Mrs. Adrie (Shirley) Born and Miss Lavonne, all of Sioux Center; five brothers, Roger, Thomas and Kenneth, all of Sioux Center, Arlin of Inwood and Douglas of Onawa; and a maternal grandparent, Mrs. Tunis (Libbie) Vander Weide of Sioux Center.

(A similar obituary was published in the Sioux County Index, Hull, October 26, 1978. It gives Mrs. Adrie Born's name as Sheryl.)

* * * * * * * * * *

From the Rock Valley Bee, October 25, 1978:

Hull Man Dies in Truck Accident

Alvin James Van Voorst, 29, of Hull was killed early Monday morning in Interstate 80 near Anita, Iowa.

According to a report received at the Bee, Van Voorst was having trouble with the engine of his semi-trailer truck, and had slowed up, veering to the shoulder of the road. The truck was struck from behind by another semi driven by Fred Bartram of Underwood, Iowa. Van Voorst was thrown from the truck, then run over by his own truck.

[The remainder of the article gives brief information on the funeral services and survivors.]

* * * * * * * * * *

From the Sioux County Index, October 26:

Hull Trucker Killed

Alvin James Van Voorst, 28, of Hull was killed Sunday, Oct. 22 in a two-truck collision on Interstate Hwy. 80 near Anita, about 75 miles west of Des Moines.

According to relatives, the accident occurred shortly after Van Voorst had passed a car. They said he had returned to his own lane as he came upon a truck which was driving very slowly, apparently due to engine trouble. The relatives said Van Voorst tried to swerve to miss the truck, but his tractor unit hooked the other corner of the trailer of the second semi-truck. The accident resulted in Van Voorst's unit jacknifing. He was thrown from his cab and his unit overturned on him. The Iowa Highway Patrol identified the driver of the other semi as Fred Bartram of Underwood.