Vernon Vanden Hoek, 70, of Lynnville died Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, at the Comfort House in Pella. Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 2, at Sully First Reformed Church with the family present 3-7 p.m. Funeral services will be Friday, Nov. 3, at 10 a.m. at Sully First Reformed Church.
Vernon Marvin Vanden Hoek was born Dec. 22, 1946, to Martin and Marie (Maasdam) Vanden Hoek in Grinnell. Vernon grew up in the Kellogg area where he attended a country school. He was a graduate of Lynnville-Sully High School. It was here that he wrote letters to his high school sweetheart, Tena Kroes. They were married Aug. 5, 1965, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella. To this union they were blessed with four children.
Vernon was a lifelong member of Sully First Reformed Church. Vernon never knew a stranger and was always witnessing to anyone and everyone. He loved working on the farm with animals: He milked Holsteins for 35 years, he adopted four Mustang horses to break, and he raised border collies. Vernon also had many other interests and talents. He loved driving school bus and would even dress as Santa Claus for the children and his family. He also drove for Progress Industries in Newton, and he drove a detasseling bus in the summer. Vernon enjoyed working in a prison ministry program for many years. He built many buildings on his farm and did some woodworking for his family. After he could no longer work on the farm, he enjoyed cooking and baking for his family or anyone in need!
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Tena, of Lynnville; three daughters: Teresa (Bart) Benson of Gilman, Rhonda (Steve) Showman of Pella, and Angie (Rod) Claassen of Garwin; a son, Tim (Marsha) Vanden Hoek of Lynnville; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; his siblings: June VerWoert, Marlene (Harvey) Beyer, Eleanor (Gene) Jansen, Gerald (Lynda) Vanden Hoek, and Ramona (Art) Cooper; and his nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his brother William; his parents; and his sister, Leona Brandhof.
