George Van Beek

Rock Valley, Iowa: George J. Van Beek, age 89 and 15 days, entered Heaven’s gates on Monday December 29, 2014 while he was residing at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley, Iowa. Funeral services will be 10:00am Saturday January 3, 2015 at the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley, Iowa, with the Rev. Matthew A. Haan officiating. Burial will be at Valley View Cemetery at Rock Valley. Visitation with the family present will be 5:00 to 7:00pm, Friday January 2, 2015 at the First Christian Reformed Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in George’s name to Rock Valley Christian School. Condolences for the family may be left online at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

George was born on December 14, 1925 on a farm near Inwood, Iowa to George Senior and Dena (Oldenkamp) Van Beek and was thirteen years older than his only sibling Ardis. George attended the local country school through his childhood years, graduating from Inwood High School in 1943. He then began farming with his father, something he continued on for generations, working with his own sons into his seventies.

He married Dorothy Van’t Hul on March 7, 1949 at First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley, Iowa. The couple lived in rural Inwood on the home place, where together they raised five children.

George enjoyed playing Pollyanna, playing pool, visiting the nursing home, wood crafting, gardening, and just being outdoors. He was very involved in the lives of all of his grandchildren, all of which have many special memories of playing games, receiving woodcrafts, singing songs, and rough-housing. He was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church all of his life, where he served as an elder, Sunday School teacher, and belonged to Men’s Society.

Left to cherish his memories are his wife, Dorothy Van Beek of Rock Valley; five children, Linda (Dr. Ed) Dykstra of Iowa City, Vern (Ellen) Van Beek of Inwood, Wanda Vos of Rock Valley, Ken Van Beek of Inwood, and Nancy (Roger) Faber of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; sister Ardis (Herb) Dykstra of Gilbert, Arizona; and many nieces, nephews, and in-laws.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Dena Van Beek; great-granddaughter, Ella Bulkley; in-laws, Norm Vande Vegte, Lawrence and Maxine Van't Hul, and Albertha Altena; and grandson-in-law, Tony Lindgren.

Visitation

5:00 - 7:00 p.m. ,Friday, January 2, 2015
Rock Valley First Christian Reformed Church
1401 16th Street Rock Valley, Iowa 51247

Funeral Service

10:00 a.m. ,Saturday, January 3, 2015
Rock Valley First Christian Reformed Church
1401 16th Street Rock Valley, Iowa 51247