VanVoorst, Howard Gene, 1951-1969

VANVOORST, WIELENGA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/22/2011 at 19:11:38

Howard Van Voorst, 18, Dies of Injuries Sustained in One-Car Accident June 14

Funeral services were held at the Christian Reformed church at Lebanon at 1:30 p.m. Monday, June 16, for Howard Gene Van Voorst, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Van Voorst of 8 miles west of Sioux Center, who died early Saturday morning, June 14, as the result of injuries sustained in a one-car accident on the blacktopped road two miles west of Sioux Center.

Investigating officers said the car apparently flew a number of feet through the air before landing in a ditch. Howard was alone. He was found several hours after the mishap.

Services were conducted by the Rev. Duane Tinklenberg and burial was made in the Lebanon Cemetery under the direction of the Co-operative Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

Howard was born at LeMars March 22, 1951, and lived with his parents on the family farm west of town. He was a graduate of the Lebanon Christian Grade School and a 1968 graduate of Western Christian High School, Hull.

Survivors besides his parents include a brother, Kenneth; three sisters, Lois (Mrs. Lloyd De Jong), Judy and Linetta, all of Sioux Center; the maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Wielenga of Rock Valley.

Source: Sioux Center News, June 19, 1969.

A somewhat briefer obit was published in the Rock Valley Bee (June 19) and the Sioux County Index (June 19). An obit in the Hawarden Independent (June 19) adds the songs sung at the funeral, the names of the casket bearers, and his mother's name (Tillie).

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From the Sioux County Capital (June 19, 1969):

Sioux Center Youth Dies in Crash

Howard Gene Van Voorst, 18, of Sioux Center, died as a result of a one-car accident some time Friday night or Saturday morning. The car was discovered in a field two miles west of Sioux Center at about 6:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, June 14, by a passing motorist. The car was found more than 750 feet from the point at which it left the highway.

[The remainder of the article repeats information found in the other obits. It includes a photograph of the car as it was found in the field.)