Ronald Lee Van Manen, 78, of rural Kellogg, died Friday, Oct. 11, 2019, at MercyOne Newton Medical Center. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 17, at Newton Church of the Way. Memorials have been designated for Gideons International or Kellogg Fire Department.
Ron, the son of John and Leona (DeZwarte) Van Manen, was born Feb. 4, 1941, in rural Kellogg. He grew up in the Reasnor area and graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School in 1959. June 29, 1961, Ron was united in marriage with Trudy Jansen at Sully First Reformed Church. In 1972, Ron and Trudy purchased his grandparents’ farm in rural Kellogg where he farmed the rest of his life. He also drove school bus for Sully Christian School and Newton Community Schools.
Ron was a member and elder at the Newton Community Reformed Church and most recently attended the Newton Church of the Way. He liked deer hunting, fishing, putting together puzzles, playing cards, and picking raspberries. Ron also enjoyed a Gator ride around his farm. Many coffee times and conversations regarding farming or deer hunting were enjoyed through the years. Ron also loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-granddaughter.
Those left to honor Ron’s memory are his wife, Trudy Van Manen of Kellogg; children, Kevin (Julie) Van Manen of Kellogg, Eric (Kelli) Van Manen of Newton, Michele (Trent) Jansen of Sully, and Todd (Sara) Van Manen of Newton; 11 grandchildren, Jacob (Kate) Van Manen, Emily Van Manen (Braden Larson), Ryan (Danielle) Van Manen, Austin (Brooke) Van Manen, Dillon Van Manen (Angela Junker), Shane, Heather, and Mason Jansen, and Kathryn, Lauren, and Ashlyn Van Manen; his great-granddaughter, Kennedy Van Manen; brothers, Rich (Karen) Van Manen of Reasnor and David Van Manen of Pleasant Hill; sister-in-law, Jackie Van Manen of Des Moines; and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by Trudy’s siblings, Jerry (Linda) Jansen of Kellogg, Dee Vander Wilt of Sully, Morris (Debbie) Jansen of Newton, and LaVonne (Ralph) Van Donselaar of Cedar, and their families.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Everett and Nellie Jansen; brother, Marion Van Manen; and brothers-in-law, Doyle Arkema and Gary Vander Wilt.
