Edward Warren Van Der Brink

ALVORD, IOWA ~ Edward Warren Van Der Brink, 77, of Alvord, passed away on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at Fellowship Village in Inwood, Iowa.

   Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 26, 2024, at First Reformed Church in Inwood, Iowa with Pastor Rob Horstman officiating. Burial with military rites conducted by the Dick De Boer Post #704 of Alvord and the Iowa Army Honor Guard will follow at Christ Lutheran Cemetery at Alvord. Visitation with the family will be from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley, Iowa. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be given to the Midwest Honor Flight at PO Box 22 Sioux Center, Iowa 51250. The funeral service will be livestreamed at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-X6pfGKanHtikofRnNX2Gg.

   Edward Warren Van Der Brink was born March 9, 1947, in Le Mars, Iowa, the son of Frank and Johanna (Kuiper) Van Der Brink. He grew up in Fairview, South Dakota, Rock Valley, and Doon, Iowa. He married Linda Den Besten on September 9, 1966. Edward was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War and served for years 1968-1969.

   Edward and Linda resided around Alvord, Iowa for most of their married life. Edward valued hard work as he started Hay Hauling and Van Der Brink Trucking where he and Linda drove trucks cross country. They drove for 30 years, and Edward was a dispatcher for 10 years. Together they drove over 10 million miles.

   Edward was always helping others and doing good deeds in the community of Alvord. He received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his service in the United States Army and a most memorable moment was with the Midwest Honor Flight Mission #7 in September of 2021. He was strong in his faith and attended the First Reformed Church in Inwood, loved to be outdoors, and dearly loved his family and being together. He will be remembered as being hard working and caring for others.

   Edward is survived by his wife, Linda; 2 sons, Keith and Cheryl (Fluit) Van Der Brink and Scott and Amy (Vlastuin) Van Der Brink; grandkids, Brett and JoAnn Van Der Brink, Alisha and Tony James, Morgan and Karsten Marker, Jacob Van Der Brink, and Chris Van Der Brink; great-grandkids, Stella and Edward Van Der Brink, Brodix and Bexlee James, and Blakely and Baby Marker; and his siblings, Frieda (Van Der Brink) and Len Rozeboom, John and Mary (Greendyke) Van Der Brink, Dwayne and Doris (Groeneweg) Van Der Brink, and Floyd and Leah (Van Tilburg) Van Der Brink.

   Edward was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Wilma Van Der Brink; brother-in-law, Harlan “Butch” Den Besten and in-laws, Willimina and John Den Besten.