William Veldhuizen

William Veldhuizen

Oskaloosa. William A. Veldhuizen, 97, of Oskaloosa died Monday, July 11, 2011, at the Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. He was born July 4, 1914, in a sod house, at Prairie View, Kansas, the son of John and Hattie Schempers Veldhuizen. In 1926, he moved with his parents to a farm near Tracy, Iowa. Early in life he made his Profession of Faith at the Tracy Christian Reformed Church in Tracy, where his family attended. On October 23, 1937, he was united in marriage to Nellie Neels at Ottumwa; they were married one day short of 70 years when Nellie died on October 22, 2007. Together they farmed most of their married life north of Oskaloosa, until retiring in 1976 when they moved into Oskaloosa. He was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. He enjoyed going to coffee with his brothers and truly enjoyed when his family would stop in for coffeetime. He loved to share stories of his younger years with his family, especially if a road trip to some of his old stomping grounds was on the agenda.

His family includes his two daughters and a son in law: Elaine Malloy and Janice and Ray Meinders all of Oskaloosa; a son: Darryl Veldhuizen of San Antonio, Texas; six grandchildren: Kimberly (& Scott) Langfitt, Oskaloosa, Rodney (& Patty) Malloy, Oskaloosa, Rocky (& Melissa) Malloy, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, Kevin (& Diana) Meinders, Pleasant Hill, Valerie (& Russ) Sytsma, Oskaloosa and Brent Meinders, Los Angeles, California; ten great grandchildren; six great great grandchildren; two brothers: Jay and Dale Veldhuizen both of Oskaloosa; two sisters and a brother in law: Gradda Tien of Prairie View, Kansas, and Veda and William Bouwsma of Sanborn, Iowa; a sister in law: Bernice Veldhuizen of Oskaloosa and many nieces and nephews.

Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; his step father: John K. Schemper; an infant son: Leon Veldhuizen; a son in law: Kenneth D. Malloy; three brothers and a sister in law: Albert (Hap) and Virginia Veldhuizen, Richard Veldhuizen, and a brother in infancy Leroy Veldhuizen; a sister and brother in law: Hendreen and Lambert Branderhorst; a brother in law: Garret Tien; and two sisters in law: Nellie Veldhuizen (Mrs. Jay) and Icel Veldhuizen (Mrs. Dale).

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 13, 2011, at 1:30 p.m. in the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Dale Visser officiating. There will be a family prayer service at 1:15 p.m. in the new addition of the church. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Tuesday after 12 noon in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5:30 – 7:30 Tuesday evening to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to the Hospice Serenity House or First Christian Reformed Church Building Fund.

Source: Bates Funeral Chapel