Carol N. Van Kampen, 90, passed Apr. 1, 2022, at Mahaska Health Serenity House in Oskaloosa with family by his side. Visitation with the family present was held Apr. 5 at Garden Chapel Funeral Home in Pella. Private family interment was Apr. 6 at Sully Cemetery. Memorials have been designated for Mahaska Health Serenity House, Oskaloosa.
Carol Nelson Van Kampen was born Dec. 14, 1931, to Jacob and Berdena (Van Kooten) Van Kampen on a farm west of Sully. Carol’s family moved to a farm west of Oskaloosa where as a child he walked to school over a mile each day. Later, the family moved south of Union Mills where Carol stayed home to help his dad farm. As a result, Carol did not go to high school.
Carol married Lavonne Dahm and to this union two sons were born: Dean and Darrell. Carol worked in construction and also as a truck driver. He enjoyed driving truck and seeing the country. He bought an acreage east of Pella where he had 36,000 chickens. Later, he sold the acreage and moved to Pella. He enjoyed early retirement until he got somewhat bored. Carol then went to work at Vermeer Manufacturing for eight years. He retired from Vermeer and started going to Phoenix for the winters. Carol loved to travel, and up to his death, he still talked of travelling. Most of all, Carol loved spending time with his grandchildren.
Carol was a member of the Iowa National Guard and also a member of Trinity Reformed Church in Pella.
Those left to cherish his memory are his sons and their families: Dean (Sharon) Van Kampen and Darrell Van Kampen; his sister Delores (Charles) Rus; his brother Lyle (Kay) Van Kampen; his sister-in-law Tina Van Kampen; and nieces and nephews.
Carol was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Edwin Van Kampen, and his sister Cecelia who died in infancy.
