Marion "Bud" John Van Engen

Rock Valley, IA: Marion “Bud” Van Engen, 93, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Monday, October 5, 2020, at Hegg Health Center in Rock Valley. Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 8, at 10:30 AM at Faith Reformed Church of Rock Valley with Pastor Keith Sietstra officiating. The service will be live-streamed at www.faithrv.com. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. The family will return to church after the burial to greet friends during a time of food and fellowship. Public visitation, with no family present, will be held Wednesday, October 7, from 12:30-6:30 PM at Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley.

   In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be given to Hope Haven’s Wheelchair Ministry.

    Marion “Bud” John Van Engen, son of Herman and Margaret (Otten) Van Engen, was born September 3, 1927 near Doon, Iowa. Bud attended Doon Christian School through the 8th grade. The Van Engen family later relocated to Lester, Iowa where Bud worked on the family farm. In his spare time he enjoyed pitching and playing for the Lester Fastpitch Softball Team.

   He met Alida Jongerius in Lester, Iowa and they were married on August 31, 1951 at Alida’s parents’ home. Bud and Alida settled on the family farm and were blessed with three children: Barry, Lyle and Brenda. Bud had a great love for farming. He was a crop farmer and for many years was also a dairy farmer. In addition to the dairy cows, Bud also raised hogs and some stock cows. While dairy farming, he was a member and voting delegate for AMPI (Associated Milk Producers Inc.). In July of 2000 they retired and moved to Rock Valley, Iowa.

   In addition to farming, Bud and Alida loved to travel. They made many trips out west where they enjoyed the mountains. Bud also volunteered thousands of hours at Hope Haven for their Wheelchair ministry. Bud was repairing and working on wheelchairs until the very end. He was a member of  Bethel Reformed Church in Lester, Iowa for many years. After moving to Rock Valley Bud became a member of Faith Reformed Church.

   Bud is survived by his son, Lyle (Joyce) Van Engen of Rock Valley; daughter, Brenda (Don) De Boer of Sanborn, Iowa; grandchildren, Jason Van Engen, Lindsay Thooft, Nikki Van Engen, Tricia (Kyle) Van Vugt, Darci (Curtis) Diekevers, Michael (Michelle) Van Engen, Chris De Boer, Matt (Melissa) De Boer, Brendon (Rachel) De Boer, and Aaron (Maria) De Boer; and great grandchildren, Briahnna, Bailee, and Mason Thooft, Kyson, Breckyn, and Makartlee Van Vugt, Ryker, Attleigh, and Dempsen Diekevers, Madilee, Mavrie, and Maela Van Engen.

   He was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Margaret; wife, Alida; son, Barry; four sisters; and one brother.