VanHeukelom, Clarence Rev. 1926-1999

VANHEUKELOM, DEBRUIN, VANZETTEN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 3/19/2013 at 20:44:38

Sioux County Capital of Sep 2, 1999

The Rev. Clarence Van Heukelom, 73, of Orange City died Monday, Aug. 23, 1999, at the Orange City Hospital. A memorial service was held on Friday, Aug. 27 at 2:30 p.m. at the American Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. Harlan Van Oort officiated. Burial was held prior to the service at the Newkirk Cemetery under the direction of the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

Clarence, who was known as "Pastor Van," was born April 24, 1926, in rural Leighton, the son of Catherines and Wilhelmina (De Bruin) Van Heukelom. He was raised on a farm near Leighton
and graduated from the Oskaloosa High School. He continued his education at Central College in Pella and New Brunswick Seminary in New Jersey. He then served as intern chaplain at the state
hospital in Independence.

On July 1, 1952, he married Helen I. Van Zetten in Oskaloosa. He then served as intern chaplain at the state hospital in Topeka, Kan., and as chaplain at Bethesda Hospital in Denver, Colo. The Rev. and
Mrs. Van Heukelom then served as founding pastor of the First Reformed Church in Willmar, Minn. from 1958-1963,founding pastor of the Church on the Hill in Norco, Calif, from 1963-1968, pastor of
the Platt Ranch Community Church in Canoga Park, Calif, from 1968-1971 pastor of the Newkirk Reformed Church in rural Hospers from 1971-1981, pastor of the Mescalero, New Mexico Reformed
Church from 1981-1984, and pastor of the First Reformed Church in Sibley from 1984-1990. In 1990 they moved to Orange City where he was a field representative for Portable Recording Ministries
until 1997.

Rev. Van Heukelom was a member of the East Sioux Classis of the Reformed Church in America and attended the American Reformed Church. He had served on the boards of directors of the Good Samaritan Youth Home in Norco, Bethesda Hospital and Bethany Christian Services. He was interested in missions and used his horses to develop a ministry to children and also residents of the Hope Haven Residential Training Center at Orange City. He and his wife also ministered to international students at Northwestern College in Orange City.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter and her husband, Tamara and Berwyn Aberson of Hospers; a son and his wife, Mark and Jocelyn Van Heukelom of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; seven grandchildren,
Shelby Jo and her husband Steven Distler, Joshua, Jordan and Shanna Aberson, and Con, Abby and Haley Van Heukelom; two great-grandchildren, Kaylie and Brianna Distler; a brother, Ernest Van
Heukelom of Leighton; and three sisters, Genella Engbers, Josephine De Jong and Esther Van Rheenen, all of Pella. Memorials are being directed to Bethany Christian Services.