VanGelder, Reynold 1923-2003

VANGELDER, KROEZE, RENSINK

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg (email)
Date: 3/12/2012 at 07:30:24

Reynold Van Gelder
Born: April 12, 1923; Alton, Iowa
Passed Away: July 13, 2003; Orange City, Iowa
Age: 80 years, 3 months, 1 day
Funeral Service: Wednesday; July 16, 2003; 1:30 p.m. Alton Reformed Church; Alton, Iowa
Interment: Nassau Township Cemetery; Alton, Iowa
Reynold was the son of Dick and Nellie (Kroeze) Van Gelder. He was raised at Alton and attended the Christian School and Northwestern Academy, both in Orange City. He received his General Equivalency Degree from the University of Alaska and also attended the National Business Training School in Sioux City.
During World War II, he served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946.
On January 11,1946, he married Eleanor Rensink. They lived in Newkirk for several years and then moved to Alton. He was employed at a hardware store for a year and then farmed for fifteen
years. He was also part owner of a Ford agency for eight years and then became a realtor and auctioneer, which he enjoyed very much.
He retired in 1996. Later, "Ren" was a resident of the Happy Siesta Nursing Home in Remsen and more recently, the Orange City Municipal Hospital long Term Care Facility, where he passed away.
He was a member of the Alton Reformed Church and a former member of the Newkirk Reformed Church, serving on both consistories.
He taught Sunday school classes and sang in choirs and small groups, especially with his sister, Marjorie. He was a strong Christian, who had a deep faith in the Lord.
Mr. Van Gelder served on the boards of directors of the Newkirk Consolidated School, Sioux County Board of Education, Northwest Iowa Community College, and Alton Community Bank.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother, who liked reaching out to others. His favorite hobby was fishing.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of 57 years; three sons and their wives, David and Rachel Van Gelder, of Chancellor, South Dakota; Philip and Starla Van Gelder, of Alton; and Mark and Anna Van Gelder, of Alameda, California; six grandchildren, Todd Van Gelder, and his wife, Ranee; Matthew Van Gelder, and his wife, Danelle; Pamela, and her husband, Derrick DeHaan; Patrick Van Gelder; Valerie Van Gelder; and Brandon Van Gelder; six great-grandchildren, Larkin and Trenton De Haan; and Holly, Beau, Samantha, and Seth Van Gelder; two sisters, Elizabeth Brown, of Orange City; and Ann, and her husband, Robert Vande Weerd, of Rock Valley; and a brother, Gerben Van Gelder, and his
Wife, Jan, of Corpus Christi, Texas.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a greatgrandson, Kade Philip De Haan; two sisters and their husbands, Etta and Wallace Zwagerman and Marjorie and John Swets; and a brother-in-law, Gene Brown.
Source: Oolman Funeral Home, Orange City, IA., obit.