Leonard Spaans

Leonard Spaans, 89, of Orange City, formerly of Larchwood, Iowa, and Rock Valley, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at Orange City Health Hospital in Orange City, Iowa.

Funeral Service will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Rock Valley, Iowa with Rev. J.J. Witvoet officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley, Iowa. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. The funeral service will be audio streamed at http://edge.mixlr.com/hannel/rwkcn.

Leonard Spaans was born on October 5, 1935, near Corsica, South Dakota, son of Dick and Tena Spaans. He married Elizabeth Fluit on February 14, 1957, in Inwood, Iowa. Together they lived on a farm west of Larchwood, Iowa. In 1962, they started farming by Rock Valley, Iowa and moved to a farm near Larchwood in 1969. They retired from farming in 2000. During retirement, he enjoyed collecting and restoring antique and toy tractors. He was a member of the Netherlands Reformed Church and served as a Deacon in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and currently was a member of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Rock Valley, Iowa. 

Surviving relatives include his 6 children, Herbert (Lavonne) Spaans, of Larchwood, Iowa, Deborah (Rallyn) Van Ginkel of Inwood, Iowa, Kevin (Ann) Spaans of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Linda (Les) Roemen of Larchwood, Iowa, Daryl (Jeanette) Spaans of Larchwood, Iowa and Sharla Van Beek of Orange City, Iowa; 25 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law, Pauline Spaans, Joanne Spaans, Kathy Spaans, Elizabeth “Betty” Spaans, Rosalie Spaans, Betty Spaans, Beverly Fluit, and Bernice Wiekamp. 

Leonard was preceded in death by his wife Elizabeth Spaans on November 27, 2020; his parents, Dick and Tena; one sister, Nellie (Pete) Bouma; and eleven brothers, Herm (Clazina) Spaans, Cornie Spaans, Rev. John Spaans, Henry (Martina) Spaans, Albert (Hermina) Spaans, Dick (Mick) Spaans, James Spaans, Adrian Spaans, Marvin Spaans, Andy (Doris) Spaans, and Ben Spaans.