Clarence John Van't Hul

Canton, South Dakota: Clarence John Van’t Hul, 90, of Canton, South Dakota, formerly of Inwood, Iowa, died Friday, October 27, 2023, at Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center in Canton.

   A funeral service will be held Thursday, November 2, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Reformed Church of Inwood with Rev. Rob Horstman officiating. Burial will follow at Richland Cemetery of Inwood. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Wednesday, November 1, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Porter Funeral Home of Inwood. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. The family prefers memorials be directed to the First Reformed Church in Inwood or Fellowship Village in Inwood. The funeral service will be livestreamed from the church at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-X6pfGKanHtikofRnNX2Gg.

   Clarence John Van’t Hul, son of John and Clara (Bakker) Van't Hul, was born May 5, 1933, at Doon, Iowa. Clarence and his family moved to Rock Valley, Iowa when he was 3 years old. He attended Rock Valley Christian School through the 8^th grade, spent two years at Rock Valley High School and later obtained his high school diploma through a GED.

   Clarence was united in marriage with Marlene Dykstra on September 8, 1954, at the First Reformed Church of Hull, Iowa. In 1954, Clarence also joined the United States Army where he proudly served his country until 1956. While in the Army, he lived in El Paso, Texas for 3 months and in Detroit, Michigan for 21 months. After his honorable discharge from the US Army, Clarence and Marlene lived in Sioux Center, Iowa for 3 years, Inwood, Iowa for 26 years, Colorado Springs, Colorado for 25 years, and Canton, South Dakota for 13 years, until recently moving to Fellowship Village in Inwood.

   Clarence began his working years at Kooima Manufacturing in Rock Valley, then John Morrell in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, before owning and operating Van’t Hul Auto Sales in Inwood for 26 years. After leaving Inwood, Clarence owned and operated Van’t Hul Enterprise in Colorado Springs. He retired from the car business in 2010.

   Clarence loved fishing, hunting, riding horses, and traveling. He enjoyed attending his children and grandchildren’s events, from sports to showing livestock. Clarence was also proud of his Model T Ford which turned 100 years old in 2021.

   Clarence is survived by his wife of 69 years, Marlene; 4 children, Larry (Susan) Van’t Hul of Divide, Colorado, Linda (Steven) Haight of Ellston, Iowa, Lois (Doug) Hoff of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Debra (Larry) Van Roekel of Larchwood, Iowa; 12 grandchildren, Bryan (Charity) Garner, Jon (Christine) Garner, Kayla Van’t Hul, Clinton (Jessica) Haight, Catelin Haight (Fiancé Aaron Haack), Angie (Joe) Joswiak, Rachel (Grant) Sunne, Kelli (Andrew) Pillatzki, Heidi (Cooper) Hausmann, Lance (Katlyn) Van Roekel, Holly (Kyle) Scholten, and Brett “BJ” Van Roekel (Friend Cassie Van Beek); 21 great-grandchildren; and 2 sisters-in-law, Alvina Van’t Hul of Rock Valley, Iowa and Linda Van’t Hul of Sheldon, Iowa.

   He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Clara; 4 sisters, Fannie (John) Westhuis, Lucy (Richard) Van Voorst, Eileen (Hans) Van Voorst, and Bernice and Harold Zellmer; two brothers, Gerald (Myrt) Van’t Hul and Bernard Van’t Hul; and a granddaughter, Christa Haight.