Roger Alden Van Maanen

ROCK VALLEY, IOWA ~ Roger Alden Van Maanen, 69, of Rock Valley, passed away on Friday, November 8, 2024, at Hegg Health Center in Rock Valley.

 Celebration of Life Service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at Trinity Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley with Roger’s nephew, Reverend Rob Horstman, and Reverend Stanley Groothof officiating. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday at the church. The Porter Funeral Home is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. The service will be livestreamed at https://livestream.com/accounts/17373723/trinitycrcservices. The family requests memorials be directed to the Parkinson’s Program at Hegg Health Center Wellness in Rock Valley or the Rock Steady Boxing in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

 Roger Alden Van Maanen, the son of Roy and Grace (Scholten) Van Maanen, was born September 26, 1955 in Sioux Center, Iowa. He was raised on the family farm near Inwood, Iowa. After graduating from West Lyon High School, he worked in construction.

 In the fall of 1977, he met his “Janie”, Lori Wallenburg, and on October 20, 1978, they were married. Within a couple of years, they moved to the farm. Roger was a kind, gentle man who loved farming and gave his best to be a good steward of the land. He took good care of the animals, his cows and pigs. Later he became the head maintenance man at Hope Haven. He loved the clients there and the “Crew” who helped him do what needed to be done. In 2014, after 25 years there, he retired.

 At the age of 46, Roger was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. He battled this illness with grace and humility, never complaining. As part of his “treatment”, he joined Rock Steady Boxing in Sioux Falls. A couple of days a week Lori would drive him to meet up with his “Boxing Buddies”, much of this was to help him stay active and mobile. He always enjoyed the sessions. He continued to farm until things just became too difficult.

 Rog and Lori moved to Rock Valley and soon after that he was diagnosed with Sarcoma Cancer. His fight continued over the next 3 years, but he always relied on God’s help, being patient and submissive. After many medical trips to Sioux Falls and Omaha, Roger went to heaven on Friday afternoon.

 Roger loved his family unconditionally. He enjoyed camping, boating, motorcycle trips with his friends, and multiple cruises. His kind, gentle spirit was evident throughout his life and this legacy remains.

 Roger supported Lori in his own humorous way. He promised to love her-but only on “Tuesdays”. Many laughs came out of this one. But what day does this funeral take place? TUESDAY! Love you, Rog! He will be missed by many.

 Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Lori; daughters, Kelly (Brian) Esser of Mankato, Minnesota and their children, Brody, Riley, and Kenley, Heather (Shawn) Van Wyhe of Rock Rapids, Iowa and their children, Jac, Jayme, and Gavin, and Robin (Dustin) Horstman of Inwood, Iowa and their children, Bryn, Jordyn, and Mykenah; his sisters, Marcia (Gerry) Van Ginkel of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Garlene Van Veldhuizen of Doon, Iowa, Glenda (Bob) Horstman of Larchwood, Iowa, and Julie (Frank) Boyer of Hudson, South Dakota; sisters-in-law, Audrey Van Maanen of Greely, Colorado, Joyce (Jim) Burggraaf of Sioux Center, Iowa, Ev Breuer of Hull, Iowa, and Jean (Ruben) Fick of Rock Rapids, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews along with some very close friends.

 Roger was preceded in death by a grandbaby, Gabrielle Horstman; his parents, Roy and Grace; brother, Ed Van Maanen; sister, Joy Van Maanen; brother-in-law, John Van Veldhuizen; parents-in-law, John and Tillie Wallenburg; sisters-in-law, Mary Bechler Van Zee and Darlene Wallenburg; and brothers-in-law, Ervin Breuer, Joe Bechler, and Dick Van Zee.