Janice Mae Van Soelen, 82, of Hull, died May 30, 2024, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.
A prayer service was at 10 a.m., Thursday, June 6, at Hope Christian Reformed Church in Hull followed by interment at the Hope Cemetery in Hull. A memorial service was at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 6, at the church with pastor Keith Hoekstra officiating.
Janice Mae was born Dec. 12, 1941, to Cornie and Antoinette (Rietveld) Vander Wal near Pella. The oldest of three children, she attended Battle Ridge School, a country school located near the family farm, through eighth grade and then graduated from Pella Christian High School.
Jan earned her bachelor of arts degree from Calvin College in three and a half years by attending Drake University in Des Moines during the summer months. Later, she received a library science endorsement from Dordt College and earned many additional credits in the following years.
She taught elementary school at Evergreen Christian School on the south side of Chicago and then at Lansing Christian School in Lansing, IL. She and her husband Marion D. Van Soelen then moved to Orange City, where she was the school librarian at Orange City Christian School. Seven years later, she developed the central library at the Sioux Center Christian School. When she and her husband moved to California, she became the elementary librarian at Ontario Christian School.
From 1992 to 2008, Jan was the library director at Hull Public Library. As the library’s collection and services grew, she led the planning of a new library dedicated in 2006. She continued to work part-time in Hull Library for several years following her retirement.
In 1963, Jan married Marion at First Christian Reformed Church in Pella. To this union, were born three children: Kimberly (Jerry) Van Es and Timothy (Jill) Van Soelen of Sioux Center, and Thomas (Julie) Van Soelen of Lawrenceville, GA. Her seven grandchildren are James (Courtney) Rylaarsdam, Jenna (Isaac) Holst, Matthew (Sarah) Van Soelen, Madison Van Soelen, Mikaela (Caleb) Herman, Addison Van Soelen, and Sullivan Van Soelen. Her great-grandchildren are Rose, Brooklynn, and Lincoln Rylaarsdam; Ezra Van Soelen; and Nico Holst.
She is survived by her family listed above and one brother Ken (Cindy) Vander Wal of Oak Brook, IL, and several family in-laws including Bob (Marilyn) Van Soelen of Lynnville, Frank (Karen) Van Soelen of Sully, Betty Nikkel of Laurel, and Martha Weg of South Dakota.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Keith and his wife Jan Vander Wal, and several Van Soelen in-laws.
Jan will be remembered as a person who loved God, books, and people, especially children. She provided volunteer childcare for the Coffee Break Ministry and Hull’s after-school program. Her warm personality, contagious smile, and sweet treats endeared her to many; young children of the community called her “Grandma Jan” and ran up to her at church, in the grocery store, or anywhere.
Jan always had a heart and passion for missions; these organizations dominated her written daily prayer list, alongside names of her beloved family and friends. For over 20 years, she was an instructor for the Crossroad Prison Ministries and served as a hospice volunteer for many years.
Memorials will be given to the Bible League, Crossroad Prison Ministries, or Mission India.
