Vonk, Henry, 1923-2001

VONK, KATZE, HULSTEIN

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/30/2015 at 18:03:37

Born: May 27, 1923 Sioux Center, Iowa
Died: December 22, 2001 Sioux Center, Iowa

Henry Vonk, 78, of Mountain Lake, Minnesota, died Saturday, December 22, at the Sioux Center Community Hospital, Sioux Center. Funeral services were at 12 noon Monday at the Mennonite Brethren Church, Mountain Lake, with the Rev: Ben Doughty and the Rev. Bernie Haan officiating. Burial was in Memory Gardens Cemetery, Sioux Center.

Vonk, the son of Ben and Jennie (Katze) Vonk, was born May 27, 1923, in Sioux Center. He received his education at a country school. He farmed with his parents until entering military service in 1943, where he served 33 months as an overseas truck and bus driver. Upon his discharge in 1946, he returned to farm in Sioux Center.

He married Gertrude Hulstein July 26, 1946, in Sioux Center. They made their home there until 1952, when they moved to Montevideo, Minnesota; and in 1964 they moved to Heron Lake, Minnesota, to continue farming. He retired from farming in 1988 but remained on the farm to help his son. They moved to Mountain Lake in 1998 and he continued to help on the farm until his health forced him to quit one year ago.

He was a member of the Mountain Lake and Heron Lake American Legion, a member of a bowling team, did volunteer work at the Good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake and for the Legion. He enjoyed hunting with his friends and farming was his joy.

Survivors include his wife of Mountain Lake; two daughters, Geneva Grooters and husband Wayne of Rock Rapids and Conda Hammje and husband John of Osakis, Minnesota; a son, Myron Vonk and wife Cathy of Heron Lake; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; five sisters, Jeanette Feekes and husband John of Sun City, Arizona; Gert Vander Berg and husband Elmer of Sioux Center, Goldie De Jager of Sioux Center, Katherine Vande Kieft and husband Harold of Orange City and Dorothy Van Bochove and husband Andy of Sun City; three brothers, Pete Vonk and wife Donna of Sioux Center, George Vonk and wife Chris of Sioux Center and Gene Vonk and wife Judy of Ireton; a sister-in-law, Wyn Vonk of Chandler, Arizona; and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Barend Gene Vonk; two brothers, Gerrit and Benjamin Vonk; sisters-in-law, Jennie Vonk and Henrietta Vonk; and a brotherin-law, Duane De Jager.

Source: Sioux Center News 1/2/2002