Obituary of Van Meeteren

William "Bill" Arie Van Meeteren, son of Marinus and Gertie (Peters) Van Meeteren, was born on July 11, 1919 near Sanborn, Iowa. Bill spent his youth in the Sanborn, Sheldon and Hospers, Iowa area. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1942 and was stationed at Camp Wallace Texas, for basic training. He served his country in Africa, Sicily, Italy, Anzio, France and Germany. While in France, Bill received the Purple Heart. He was honorably discharged October 15, 1945. On January 21, 1948, Bill was united in marriage to Esther Roos at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. To this union, two children were born, Darla and Keith. The couple farmed north of Melvin, Iowa until August 1985, when they moved to Sheldon. They were members of the First Reformed Church at Melvin, transferring their membership in 1985 to Sheldon. Bill maintained 61 years of continuous membership in the Melvin American Legion Post #470. Bill passed from this life on Friday, May 29, 2015 at Prairie View Home at the age of 95. He is preceded in death by his wife Esther, who passed away November 21, 2006; grandson, Scott William Beek on February 24, 1994; brothers: Nick, Morris, Chris and John; and sisters: Hattie and Jeannette. Left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Darla and her husband, Danny Beek, of Melvin, Iowa; his son, Keith Van Meeteren and his wife, Mary Beth, of Sanborn, Iowa; grandchildren: Amy Beek of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Karson Van Meeteren and his wife, Sara, of Ames, Iowa; and great-grandson, Owen Van Meeteren. He enjoyed woodworking, and maintaining his yard, but his greatest love was always farming, and he retained his appreciation for a good, hard day's work to the end of his life. Celebration of Life William "Bill" Van Meeteren Born ~ July 11, 1919 Died ~ May 29, 2015 Age ~ 95 years 10 months 18 days Funeral Service Monday, June 1, 2015 ~ 10:30 a.m. First Reformed Church Sheldon, Iowa Clergy ~ Rev. Paul Van Maaren Organist ~ LuAnn Donkersloot Congregational Singing Processional ~ "How Great Thou Art" "Does Jesus Care" Recessional ~ "Because He Lives" Pallbearers Karson Van Meeteren Amy Beek Brad Knock Danny Beek Keith Van Meeteren Tim Pottebaum Ushers Thel Boone Don Dykshoorn Military Rites Melvin American Legion Post #470 Interment Baker Township Cemetery Melvin, Iowa