Obituary of Vander Veen

Memorial Tribute Allen James Vander Veen, son of Mitchell and Clazina (Van Engen) Vander Veen, was born on July 16, 1939 at Le Mars, Iowa. He spent his youth in the Sioux Center, Iowa area, and attended the country school there. When the family relocated to Sanborn, Iowa in 1951, he continued his grade school education at the Sanborn Christian School; and in 1957, graduated from Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa. Allen served his country with the United States Army from 1962 to 1964; then in the Army Reserves from 1964 to 1968, when he was honorably discharged. On March 2, 1966, he was united in marriage to Donna Woudstra at the Hospers Christian Reformed Church in Hospers, Iowa. To this union three children were born: Rodney, Roger, and Kim. They made their home in the Sanborn area and raised their family there. Allen operated a trucking business in Sanborn until 1977, along with growing row crops and raising livestock. In his free time, Allen enjoyed golfing and fishing. In the past few years, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and attending their activities. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Sanborn. He passed from this life on Sunday, May 15, 2016 at the age of 76. Preceding him in death were his parents, Mitchell and Clazina Vander Veen; and in-laws, Ted and Dora Woudstra. Survivors include his wife, Donna of Sanborn, Iowa; his children and their spouses: Rodney and Tami Vander Veen of Sibley, Iowa, Roger and Jill Vander Veen of Hartley, Iowa, and Kim and Henry Rainey of Centralia, Missouri; five grandchildren: Amber (Preston) Gable of Stratford, Iowa, Devan Vander Veen of Sibley, Iowa, John Vander Veen of Hartley, Iowa, Abigail Rainey and Colton Rainey both of Centralia, Missouri; other relatives and friends. Celebration of Life Allen J. Vander Veen Born ~ July 16, 1939 Died ~ May 15, 2016 Age ~ 76 years 9 months 29 days Funeral Service Thursday, May 19, 2016 ~ 11:00 a.m. St. John's Lutheran Church Sanborn, Iowa Clergy ~ Pastor George Clausen Organist ~ Steve Berntson Musical Tribute Caleb Funke "Be Still, My Soul" Congregational Singing Processional ~ "Great Is Thy Faithfulness" "The Old Rugged Cross" Recessional ~ "How Great Thou Art" Pallbearers Doug Graves Ed Schierholz Cliff Pry Harv Westerman Larry Van Veldhuizen Todd Hatterman Honorary Pallbearers Allen's Grandchildren Ushers Les Storm ~ Norm Holz Military Graveside Rites Arthur W. Kirchhoff Post #288 Hartley, Iowa Interment Roseland Cemetery Sanborn, Iowa <iframe id="tukios_player_512x330" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="330" scrolling="no" src="https://www.tributeslides.com/videos/embedded_video/DD55Q378KJL6P7ZK" width="512"></iframe>