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Scholten, Rodney H. 1929-2022

SCHOLTEN, VANZANDBERGEN, MULDER

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/8/2022 at 10:51:15

Rodney H. Scholten, 93, of Le Mars, Iowa, went into the loving arms of his Savior on Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at the Good Samaritan Society of Le Mars.

A Celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, March 29, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. at The Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Le Mars. Visitation with the family present will begin at 9:30 A.M. that morning at the church and will run until the time of the service. A private family burial will be held that afternoon at the Nassau Cemetery near Alton, Iowa.

Rodney was born on January 27, 1929, to Gerrit and Clara (Van Zandbergen) Scholten in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a young boy his family moved to Alton, Iowa, where Rod attended Floyd Valley Schools. As a young student, his prized possession was his Baritone horn which he purchased with his own money through many entreprenuer adventures. While attending Floyd Valley, he participated in vocal and instrumental music activities and excelled at baseball and basketball. He was known through out the area baseball arena as The Knuckle Baller, participating in the sport well into his 50's. Rod graduated from High School in 1947 and then began his college career in an ROTC program at Iowa State. Due to illness, Rod had to drop out of the ROTC program and returned to Alton. He was drafted into the Marines during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in San Francisco as an Electronic and Radio Instructor.

On December 8, 1951, Rodney was united in marriage to Colleen Rae Mulder. Rod and Colleen then moved to San Diego, California, where Rod was stationed with the US Marine Corps . After Rod was honorably discharged, the young couple moved back to Le Mars to complete their degrees at Westmar College. Their daughter, Nancy Claire, was born on Colleen's 22nd birthday during the couple's Senior Year at Westmar. Upon graduation, the young couple moved to Hull, Iowa, where Rod taught Junior High Industrial Arts classes and served as the Junior High Principal. After living in Hull for three years, they moved to Greeley, Colorado, for one year to pursue higher education classes. Rod received his Master's Degree in Industrial Arts from the University of Colorado and that is where they welcomed their son, Steven Dirk.

After graduation, Rod, Colleen and Nancy and Steven moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for further teaching assignments. After three years in Sioux Falls, Rod received a job offer as Professor of Industrial Arts at Westmar College in Le Mars where he taught until 1977. He treasured the many relationships he built there with other faculty members and his students. After resigning from Westmar, Rod drove for Harkers. The “Old Professor” (his handle on the CB) loved the open road and the many relationships he enjoyed while at Harkers. Rod also loved fishing, downhill skiing and spending time with his family and friends.

Both Rod and Colleen spent some summers in Richmond, Kentucky, at Eastern Kentucky University, where Colleen obtained her Master's Degree in Music Education and Rod completed his requirements for a Specialist Degree in Industrial Arts.

Colleen and Rod traveled extensively during their retirement years visiting Europe 13 times and each of our 50 states. Rod was always busy planning another adventure for them.

Rodney is survived by his daughter, Nancy (Stan) Speer of Sioux Center; daughter-in-law, Nancy Scholten of Alton; grandchildren: Scott (Lindsay) Speer and their children Ava, Lydia, and Jake of Sioux Falls, SD; TJ (Lisa) Speer and their children Adalyn and Stella of Sioux Center; Nicole (Jason DeJong) Bylsma and her children Caleb, Bella, and Kinley of Orange City; Allison (Dustin) Gollhofer and their children Serena, Scarlett, and Zeke of Hospers; brother, Jerry (Audrey) Scholten of Le Mars; sister-in-law, Anne Scholten of Des Moines; brothers-in-law, M.G. Waitt of New Bury Park, CA and David (Dorthy “Dot”) Mulder of Sioux Center; and several nieces and nephews.

Rodney is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Colleen; a son, Steven Scholten; brother, Clifford Scholten; sister, Beverly Waitt; and parents-in-law, Dick and Harriet (Schutt) Mulder.

Memorials may be directed to The Presbyterian Church of Christ in Le Mars, IA.


 

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