VanDyke, John, 1920-1996

VANDYKE, DEGROOT, ELGERSMA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/6/2013 at 06:40:47

John Van Dyke
November 19, 1920--April 21, 1996

John Van Dyke, 75, a soldier during World War II and a long-time resident of Sanborn, died on April 21. Funeral services were at Sanborn Christian Reformed Church on Tuesday, April 23, with the Rev. Aldon Kuiper officiating. Burial was at Roseland Cemetery in Sanborn.

Van Dyke was born in Hospers on November 19, 1920, the son of Jim and Trientje (De Groot) Van Dyke. He lived his youth in the Hospers and Melvin areas and began his education at Hospers Christian School, completing his education at Melvin. He served his country as a military policeman from September 24, 1942 to November 2, 1945 in New Guinea, Moratai, East Indies, Leyte and Luzon of The Philippines and took part in the occupation of Japan.

Van Dyke was married to June Elgersma on February 25, 1949, in Sanborn. He farmed for 10 years in the Hartley area and then the family moved to Sanborn where he was employed by Vander Haag's Salvage for 32 years, retiring in December 1994.

He is survived by his wife, June, of Sanborn; six children, Larry and Brenda Van Dyke of Sioux Center, Karen and her husband Lonnie Van Meeteren, of Sheldon, Tom and Helen Van Dyke of Sheldon, Terry Van Dyke of Sanborn, Joy and her husband, Rob Bock, of Allen, Nebraska, and Janie Van Dyke of Edgerton, Minnesota; 18 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three brothers: Herman of Sanborn, Jake of Sioux Center and Marion of Grand Rapids, Michigan; and five sisters, Rose De Boer of Orange City, Tena Van Dyke of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Reka Andringa of Sanborn, Ann Talsma of Racine, Wisconsin, and Bertha Vander Plaats of Sanborn.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Beatrice Andringa, two infant sisters, one daughter-in-law, Ellen Van Dyke, one granddaughter, Amanda Van Dyke, and one great-grandson, Craig Van Dyke.

Van Dyke was a member of the Christian Reformed Church in Sanborn. He will be remembered for his love of the outdoors and his love and devotion to his family.

At his funeral, casket bearers were Lynn Van Dyke, Jeff Van Meeteren, Greg Van Dyke, David Van Dyke, Joel Van Dyke and Daniel Pfell. Honorary bearers were Heath Oostenink, Michael Bock, John Vander Haag, Mark Hulshof and Brian Koldenhoven. The processional hymn was "O Lord of Host How Lovely" and the recessional hymn was "Amazing Grace." A men's quartet, consisting of Henry Koldenhoven, Bob Oldenkamp, John Prins and Harv Verbrugge, also sang. The pianist was Starla Reitsma. Organists were Kari Van Meeteren and Thelma Elgersma. Ushers were Elmer Klaver, John Prins, Henry Van Beek and Gerald Elgersma.

Source: Sioux Center News, April 30, 1996.