John Henry Santema

Rock Valley, IA: John Henry Santema, 92, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Sunday, April 3, 2022, at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley. Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 7, at 11:00 AM at Calvin Christian Reformed Church of Rock Valley with Rev. Gideon Wamala officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation, with the family present, will be held at Calvin CRC, prior to the funeral service, from 9:30-10:30 AM. Memorials may be given to Hegg Health Center.

   John Henry Santema was born February 18, 1930, near Sioux Center, Iowa, to Henry and Daisy (Mulder) Santema. He attended school in Sioux Center and worked on the family farm with his father. They moved to Sioux Center when John was 16 years old and he started working for Ver Hoef Chevrolet. He was a member of Sioux Center First Reformed Church.

   On April 6, 1950, John was united in marriage with Joyce Gort. The couple moved to Rock Valley, Iowa in 1955 when John and his partner bought the Chevrolet dealership from Walt Warntjes, Sr. John and Joyce became members of Calvin Christian Reformed Church. The couple moved to the country in 1973, where John had horses and cattle. He retired from Hi-Way Chevrolet-Buick in February 2001. John and Joyce moved into Rock Valley in 2013. In 2019, John made his final move to Whispering Heights in Rock Valley.

  During his years in the Rock Valley area, John served on the church building committee, was president of the Hegg Health Center Board, and was honored as the Rock Valley “Man of the Year”. John enjoyed horse riding trips, which he did for about 30 years. John trusted in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of his sin and God’s gift of eternal life.

   John is survived by his wife of nearly 72 years, Joyce; 3 sons, Greg (Susan) Santema, Jeff (Sharon) Santema, and Dan (Kelly) Santema; 8 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and many extended relation.

  He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Daisy Santema; infant daughter, Sandra Santema; son, Russell Santema; grandson, Daniel Santema; and 3 brothers, Andrew, James, and Bernard Santema. “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15)