Hank Van Weelden

Hank Van Weelden

February 05, 1920 – August 07, 2011

Oskaloosa, Iowa

Visitation: will begin at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday morning, August 09, 2011 at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel. The family will be present from 5 – 7 p.m. to greet visitors.
Funeral Service: 10:30 a.m., Wednesday morning, August 10, 2011 at First Christian Reformed Church with Reverend Dale Visser officiating. A family prayer service will be held in the church fellowship hall at 10:15 preceding the funeral service.
Interment: Forest Cemetery with Military Honors by the Harry L. Anderson Post #34 of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #2237 and Disabled American Veterans Post #21.

Hank went home to be with his Lord on Sunday morning at Mahaska Hospital in Oskaloosa at the age of 91 years, 6 months and 2 days.

Henry Van Weelden, son of William and Jennie Bouma Van Weelden, was born February 5, 1920 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He attended “Red School” in Harrison Township. After graduating from eighth grade he began helping his father on the family farm. Hank married Grace Meppelink January 22, 1942 in Lancaster, Missouri. Five days later he was inducted into the U.S. Army; he served in the Egypt, Libya and Tunisian campaigns. He was awarded two bronze stars and honorably discharged June 6, 1945. Upon his return to the Oskaloosa area he farmed for 14 years. He later worked as a salesman for Purina Feed Company and then for Newell Elevator in Eddyville, Iowa. Hank was last employed by Wyngarden Oil where he worked for eight years, retiring in 1985. Hank was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church and the American Legion. He enjoyed fishing trips to Canada.

His family includes his wife, Grace of Oskaloosa; a son and daughter-in-law, Henry Willis and Bonnie Van Weelden of New Sharon; a daughter and son-in-law, Donna Joyce and Gene Frisby of Pella; six grandchildren: Kim and Randy Smith of Marshalltown, Michael and Ann Dieleman of Kansas City, MO, Kristy and David Trzeciak of Polk City; Valerie and Brendan Terpstra of Pella, Jennifer and Jeff Baham of San Jose, CA and Melissa and Charlie Bowen of Farmington, MN; twelve great-grandchildren; sisters: Dorothy DeRonde of Oskaloosa, Anna Kelderman of Mesa, AZ and Francis and Lester Spoelstra of Redlands, CA; brothers: Ray and Wilma Van Weelden of Oskaloosa; Harold and Eileen Van Weelden of Oskaloosa; Rev. James and Adriana Van Weelden of Grimsly, Canada and Ernest and Mary Van Weelden of Wesley, IA; and sisters-in-law: Wilma Van Weelden of Oskaloosa and Ruth Van Weelden of Pella.

Besides his parents, Hank was preceded in death by four brothers, John, William, Jr., Peter and an infant brother and two sisters, Sylvia Kelderman and Jean Boender.

Memorials may be made to the Oskaloosa Christian School Music Department.

Source: GVL Funeral Chapel