VanLeeuwen, John 1922-2013

VANLEEUWEN, SLOTOUBER, VINK

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg (email)
Date: 6/12/2013 at 10:08:49

John Van Leeuwen

October 19, 1922 - May 31, 2013
Mr. John Van Leeuwen, age 90, of Hull, Iowa, passed away on Friday, May 31, 2013, at the Hegg Memorial Health Center in Rock Valley, Iowa.

There will be a memorial service on Monday, June 3, at 11:00am, at the First Reformed Church in Hull. The Rev. Josh Van Leeuwen and the Rev. Irwin Van Leeuwen will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the Hope Cemetery in Hull. There will be a prayer service on Monday, at 10:00am, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Hull, with the Rev. Kevin Yurk officiating.

Visitation will be after 4:00pm on Sunday, with the family present from 4:00pm to 6:00pm, at the funeral home.

John was born on October 19, 1922, in rural Hull, the son of William G. and Rena (Slothouber) Van Leeuwen. He grew up on a farm near Hull, attending the Sheridan Township County School #4.

On October 10, 1945, he married Nettie Vink at her parents’ home near Hull. John and Nettie farmed on the Van Leeuwen family farm northeast of Hull and later built a new house ¼ mile from the farm where they retired. Nettie passed away on August 13, 2000.

John continued to reside in his home until June of 2012 when he entered the Pleasant Acres Care Center in Hull after a fall injury.

John was a member of the First Reformed Church, where in earlier years he taught Sunday School and was also an usher. He enjoyed being a 4-H leader for many years.

John thoroughly enjoyed farming. In his spare time he enjoyed woodworking and attending craft shows where he sold his wooden toy and furniture creations. John was an animal lover and had a special relationship with his rat terrier dogs over the years. John always enjoyed hearing about what the grandchildren were doing and especially enjoyed their photographs.

Survivors include four children and their spouses, Everett and Bonnie Van Leeuwen, of Orange City, Iowa; Irwin and Helen Van Leeuwen, of Worthington, Minnesota; Lorena and Jerry Sazama, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Dwayne and Gayle Van Leeuwen, of Hull, Iowa; eleven grandchildren and their seven spouses; ten great-grandchildren, three step-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law, Wilma Van Leeuwen, of Overland Park, Kansas; and a cousin, Marie Friese, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a son, Gerrit William Van Leeuwen; a brother, Gerard Van Leeuwen; and a sister, Marie Wegter.