Dirk Wayne Van Gorp
Dirk Wayne Van Gorp
Dirk Wayne Van Gorp
July 5, 1932 – October 5, 2018
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 79
Dirk Wayne Van Gorp, 79, of Oskaloosa, passed away on Friday, October 5, 2018. He was born on July 5, 1939 in Oskaloosa, Iowa to Marion & Janet Van Gorp.
Dirk graduated from Pella High School in 1957 and after 6 months active duty in the army he returned to Pella to attend Central College. He majored in business and football, graduating in 1962. He played defensive center and was the recipient of the 1961 Schilder Trophy along with all-conference honors.
Following graduation, he and his brother, Jr., founded Van Gorp Auto Recyclers in Pella, moving the business to Oskaloosa in 1965. He sold his interest in the business to his brother in 1992.
Dirk was an entrepreneur by inclination and he eventually bought and ran Manhole Adjustable Riser Company selling that in 2013 when he was 75 years old, after working since he was a teenager.
Many folks didn’t know that he struggled as a child with speaking and reading but through grit, hard work, and always looking for a smarter way to do things, he was successful in business.
His leadership ability was valued by many and he served for over 30 years on the Board of Directors of Iowa Trust and Savings Bank (now TruBank) including as Chairman. He also held statewide offices with the Iowa Auto Dismantlers and Recyclers. Other boards he served on included Oskaloosa Chamber, Elmhurst Country Club, First Presbyterian Church and the Mahaska County property assessor Board of Review.
Dirk married Dianne Gluen on June 30, 1962 in Greenleafton, Minnesota. They have two daughters, Beth and Stacy, in whom he nurtured both independence and ambition as well as close and harmonious family ties.
Dirk liked to have fun and he enjoyed many happy times at Lake Ponderosa, at the Elks, on the golf course, with his breakfast and coffee time buddies, and in the sunny winter weather in Palm Springs, California. Always interested in many different things he was an avid reader. So, it’s not surprising that Dirk often had an answer for anything.
He is survived by his spouse, Dianne; his daughters: Beth Van Gorp, and Stacy (& Chris Denison) Van Gorp; grandchildren: Maren Denison and Berne Dirk Denison; his brother, Marion Van Gorp Jr.; his niece, Jan Carter; Jan’s children and grandchildren; his sisters-in-law and spouses: Lory (& Don) Tichelaar and Carol (& Floyd) Wesselink, and their children and grandchildren.
Dirk was preceded in death by his parents, Marion C. and Janet W. Van Gorp.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, October 9, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. in the First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa with Reverend Don Stribling officiating.
As was Dirk’s wish his body has been cremated.
Military Honors will be given by members of the Oskaloosa American Legion and V.F.W. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Visitation will begin Monday after 10:00 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 Monday evening.
Following visitation Monday evening friends and family are invited to the Elks Lodge in Oskaloosa to continue celebrating Dirk’s life.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial donations be made to:
the Iowa Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (1501 42nd St #230, West Des Moines, IA 50266),
the Elks National Foundation Elks National Foundation (2750 N. Lakeview Ave., Chicago, IL 60614)
or First Presbyterian Church of Oskaloosa (405 High Ave E, Oskaloosa, IA 52577).
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Dirk Wayne Van Gorp please visit the Bates Funeral Chapel Sympathy Store.
