Obbink, Harvey Gene 1941-2021

OBBINK, BRUNSTING, EISMA

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/4/2022 at 14:05:55

Mr. Harvey Obbink, age 80, of Orange City, passed away on Sunday, December 26, 2021, at the Orange City Area Health System.

There will be a memorial service on Tuesday, January 4, at 11:00 am, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. Mark Vande Zande will officiate. Interment will be prior to the memorial service at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. There will be a family prayer service on Tuesday, at 10:00 am, at the church. Visitation with the family will be on Monday, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm, at the church. Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

Harvey Gene was born on July 13, 1941, in Hawarden, the son of Richard and Nellie (Brunsting) Obbink. He was raised in rural Hawarden and attended the public grade school. In 1959, He graduated from the Western Christian High School in Hull, where he spent his junior and senior years as a student bus driver. He then enrolled in a two-year program at Dordt College, in Sioux Center, graduating with a Teaching Certificate in 1961. In the fall of 1961, he accepted a junior high principal and teaching position at the Hollandale Christian School, in Hollandale, Minnesota, where he remained for eight years. He spent his summers taking classes towards his bachelor’s degree and working construction.

On August 30, 1963, he was united in marriage to Mary Lou Eisma, in Ireton. They made their home in Hollandale until 1969, when they moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where Harvey received his bachelor’s degree from Augustana College. In the fall of 1970, they moved to Orange City, where he began teaching junior high math and science at the Orange City Christian School, retiring in 2008, after 38 years of service. Shortly after retirement, he took a part time teaching position at Northwest Iowa Community College in Sheldon, teaching basic math, until 2018.

Harvey was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Orange City, where he served as a Deacon and an Elder, and was an active member in the Men’s Bible study, as well as various fellowship societies. He also volunteered with the Cadet Boys as a bus driver and spent countless hours helping the cadets untangle their fishing lines. Throughout his life, Harvey enjoyed staying busy with various jobs, including driving bus for the DeKalb kids who detasseled corn, delivering fuel for Sioux Oil, and delivering an early morning paper route for The Des Moines Register and the Advisor with the entire family. In his free time, Harvey enjoyed working puzzles and sudokus.

Survivors include his wife of more than 58 years, Mary, of Orange City; five children and their families; Randy Obbink, and his wife, Elaine of Monroe, Washington; and their daughter Sydney (fiancé Jeremy Van Dam); Laura, and her husband Mark Heystek of Lynden, Washington; and their five children, Luke Heystek, and his wife, Emily (Rowen, Charlie, and Franki), Derek Heystek, and his wife, Kelsie (Ava and Sofie), Steven Heystek, and his wife, Brooke (Hadley), Erika, and her husband, Chris Appel (expecting twins), and Jamie Heystek, and his wife, Livi (expecting a child); Bruce Obbink, and his wife, Kristi of Dubuque; and their three sons, Zach Obbink, Nick Obbink, and Nate Obbink; Greg Obbink, and his wife, JaNae of Swisher; and their two children, Evan Obbink and Mya Obbink; Rick Obbink, of Ireton; and his children, Kylie Obbink, Gabe Obbink, Bryce Sorenson, and his wife, Devyn (Paisley and BexTynn), and Trevor Sorenson; two brothers and their wives, Earl and Janice Obbink of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Melvin and Darlene Obbink of Sioux City; a sister and her husband, Geneva and Vern Van Zanten of Pella; and two sisters-in-law; Donna Obbink of Sioux Center, and Wilma Obbink of Hawarden; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers; Ernest Obbink, in childhood, John Obbink, Rich Obbink, and Edwin Obbink, and his wife, Betty; and a sister and her husband, Irene and Mitch Van Berkel.

Memorials may be directed to the Orange City Christian School.

Source: Oolman Funeral Homes online obituary.