Reuben Joel Van Veldhuizen
Reuben Joel Van Veldhuizen
Reuben Joel Van Veldhuizen
December 25, 2003 – July 7, 2016
Rural Mahaska County, Iowa | Age 12
Reuben Joel Van Veldhuizen, age 12, died Thursday, July 7, 2016, of complications following surgery. He was born December 25, 2003, in Pella, the son of Scott and Sandra Van Donselaar Van Veldhuizen.
Reuben was homeschooled and recently completed 6th grade. He was a fun loving, typical 12-year-old boy that had an incredible zest for life.
Reuben loved the farm, helping his dad, brothers, and grandpas with projects and field work. He enjoyed raising goats and chickens, and especially the income from his egg sales. Reuben was an outdoorsman, and looked forward to trapping and hunting season every year. When season was closed for hunting and trapping, he would pick up his fishing pole and spend hours by the water when his brothers went with him. He always looked forward to swimming and climbing trees with his sister. This last fall and spring, Reuben, with his brothers by his side, harvested his first deer and turkey.
Reuben always looked forward to trips to grandma and grandpa’s house, be it working with his grandma on a project or doing farm work and riding 4-wheelers with grandpa. He also was an athlete, and enjoyed participating in football, basketball and baseball on the ‘Oskaloosa Heat’ team. Reuben enjoyed being in 4-H, riding his bike, running around with his friends during his brother’s ballgames, tending his fish tank, playing Rook, robotics club, attending church on Sunday and visiting with other kids after church.
Reuben was kind and tender-hearted, and always looked forward to brightening the day of those around him, as well as receiving hugs, especially from his mom. He enjoyed attending Federated Fellowship Church in Pella with his family, and had been on mission trips with his family to Mexico and Texas. He also enjoyed being in Cadets at Cedar Christian Reformed Church, and was looking forward to Camporee this summer.
His family includes his parents, Scott and Sandy Van Veldhuizen of Oskaloosa; his siblings: Nate (& fiancée Lydia Van Ee) Van Veldhuizen, and Blake, Noah, and Lydia Van Veldhuizen, all of Oskaloosa; paternal grandparents, Marvin & Judy Van Veldhuizen; maternal grandparents, Ralph & LaVonne Van Donselaar; paternal great grandparents, Henry & Virginia Van Kooten of Pella; many aunts and uncles: Marvin & Kim Meyers, Kevin & Melanie Van Maanen, Tom & Kristen Parks, Jeff & Vicki Van Donselaar, Jeremy & Kristen Van Donselaar, Matt & Sheri Overbergen, and Brad & Julie Boender; and many cousins.
Reuben was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Sherma Van Donselaar; great grandparents: Henry & Cornelia Van Veldhuizen, Lewis & Jennie Van Donselaar, Everett & Nellie Jansen, and Cornelius & Anna Roose.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 11, 2016 at 10:30 a.m. in the Federated Fellowship Church in Pella with Reverend Steve Stroup officiating.
A family prayer service will be at 10:15 Monday morning at the church.
Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery near Leighton. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin Sunday after 12 noon in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel on Sunday from 2-6 p.m. to greet friends and relatives.
Memorials may be made to Federated Fellowship Missions.
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