Obituary of Van Veldhuizen

MEMORIAL TRIBUTE On Tuesday, August 30, 2016, Larry Lee Van Veldhuizen went to his heavenly home. Larry's death was caused by lung cancer. Larry, son of Gradus and Elbertha "Dorothy" (Aalbers) Van Veldhuizen, was born July 28, 1951 at his parents' home north of Sanborn, IA. He was baptized on September 2, 1951 at the First Reformed Church in Sanborn. Larry spent his childhood days growing up in the Sanborn area and attended school there, graduating from Sanborn High School. On November 6, 1971, Larry was united in marriage to Lori Lei Clausen of Hartley, IA at St. Paul's Lutheran Church of that city. They were blessed with their first son, Loren Lee, in 1972 and completed their family with another son, Shane Lee, born in 1973. The couple raised their family, and lived in the Sanborn area their entire married life. In his early years, Larry was employed by Visser Brothers of Sanborn as a block layer. Through trial and error, he mastered the trade, from laying block and brick to doing cement work. Proudly, he often pointed out projects he had worked on in the area; basements he had laid up, or driveways he had poured. Later on, Larry drove truck for several companies, including Van Hof, Petroleum Carriers, Sanborn P & L, American Freight, and GCC Alliance. Between trucking and vacations, he managed to have been in all but four states! Larry was a great outdoorsman; he loved hunting, fishing, and golfing, or just hanging out with the guys. After Lori retired, they both enjoyed going south during the cold winter months; one year to Florida, another to Arizona. Larry also looked forward to visiting his grandchildren in Texas and Illinois, and always enjoyed the time he spent with them. Larry was a member of the First Reformed Church in Sanborn most of his life. Throughout the years, he and Lori led four groups from their church on mission trips to Florida, Texas and Louisiana. One winter, they worked with World Renew on a mission project in Florida. Always ready to help where he could, Larry saw missions as an opportunity instead of the work and sacrifice they really are. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gradus and Dorothy Van Veldhuizen. Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Lori of Sanborn, Iowa; his sons: Loren (Erin) Van Veldhuizen of Dallas, Texas, and Shane (Holly) Van Veldhuizen of Pleasant Plains, Illinois; four grandchildren: Jonah, Luke, Alli, and Nash; three brothers: John (Glenda) Van Veldhuizen of Sioux City, Iowa, Harold (Gladys) Van Veldhuizen of Sheldon, Iowa, and Dennis (Sallee) Van Veldhuizen of Milford, Iowa; two sisters: Gladys (Rod) Kroeze of Sheldon, Iowa, and Bonnie (Gene) Kenegy of Sioux City, Iowa; other relatives and friends. CELEBRATION OF LIFE Larry L. Van Veldhuizen Born ~ July 28, 1951 Died ~ August 30, 2016 Age ~ 65 years 1 month 2 days FUNERAL SERVICE Saturday, September 3, 2016 10:30 a.m. First Reformed Church Sanborn, Iowa Clergy ~ Pastor Mark Waterstone Pianist ~ Gayle Vander Woude Musical Tribute Dylan Larsen "Amazing Grace" Songs of Praise Processional ~ "How Great Thou Art" "Rock Of Ages" Recessional ~ "What A Friend We Have In Jesus" Honorary Pallbearers Loren Van Veldhuizen Shane Van Veldhuizen Bob Knowlton Lynn Kleve Cliff Pry Doug Graves Ushers Gerrit Wiekamp ~ John Solsma Interment Roseland Cemetery Sanborn, Iowa (Private Family Burial)