Gene Heiko VELDHOUSE

VELDHOUSE, GUM, HOLCK

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/11/2009 at 17:19:02

Gene "Hank" Heiko Veldhouse was born on Aug. 2, 1948, in Belmond, Iowa, to Daniel and Shirley Veldhouse. He passed away on Aug. 4, 2009, at the Boise Veteran's Community Living Center Hospice unit after a recent cancer diagnosis. He is survived by his wife of more than 33 years, Mary, his three children Nicholas Veldhouse and his wife Noelle, China Veldhouse Gum and her husband Jeremy, Marquita Veldhouse and six grandchildren, Kaija, Jerry, Reisa, Maxwell, Scarlett and Charlize, all who live in the Treasure Valley; brother Richard Allen Veldhouse who resides at the Boise Veteran's Community Living Center fighting cancer, brother Daniel Norman Veldhouse and his wife and children of Britt, Iowa: brother Douglas Ray Veldhouse of Caldwell; step brothers Curt Holck and Mark Holck and step sister Mona Holck, all who reside in Iowa; his loving nieces and nephews, and numerous close friends and buddies.

Gene served in his beloved US Navy for more than 20 years. His career took him to many parts of the world including two tours in Vietnam where he fought for our freedom while stationed in DaNang. As a missile specialist, his service also took him to Bahrain and Kuwait just before the Persian Gulf War. He joined his shipmates on a Western Pacific deployment where he experienced the beauty of sunsets, darkness of night under the light of the moon and stars and stunning sunrises that he described for years and years. He loved his tours in Hawaii where his three children were raised. He was involved in their soccer teams as a coach and referee, accompanied one daughter when her team won the National Championship, and proudly cheered at his son's baseball games. Looking back on all the Saturdays we spent at Waimea Bay, the weekends camping at Bellows Beach and Barber's Point, BSU tailgate parties, birthday bbq's, teary-eyed sunsets over the Pacific horizon, fills our hearts with tremendous joy and thankfulness to have had a Dad, husband, brother, and friend in him. His loyalty to his friends and family will be cherished forever. Please join us at any of the following: A memorial service will be held at the Allen Nobel Hall of Fame, Bronco Stadium, Boise State University, Friday, Aug. 14 at 9 a.m., followed by a full military honor service at 11 a.m., Idaho State Veteran's Cemetery. After committal services, a reception at the Golling's home: 2411 E. Lenox Ct., Eagle, which will be followed by a celebration of his life at "the Ranch" on Chinden in Caldwell. Flowers can be sent by Thursday evening to Aclesa Funeral Home, 8209 W. Fairview Ave., Boise.

Idaho Press Tribune, Idaho
August 11, 2009