William "Bill" Van Wyhe

IRETON, IOWA- William Dean “Bill” Van Wyhe, 84 of rural Ireton, passed away on Tuesday, November 17, 2015 at the Hillcrest Health Care Center in Hawarden, Iowa. Visitation with the family present will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Saturday, November 21, 2015 at the Porter Funeral Home in Ireton, Iowa. Burial of the cremated remains with military rites will take place at a later time in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Ireton. Online condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com.
He was born on April 27, 1931 in McNally Iowa, and raised on a farm in rural Ireton Iowa. Bill graduated from Ireton High School 1949. He joined the United States Air Force in March 1951, and retired March 1975. Bill then worked at the Ireton Vet Clinic, and then drove truck for a few years. He went to work for the post office and worked for them for 14 years. Following this he went back to driving truck, and for a few years drove a tour bus. Bill helped establish the Ponderosa Campground in Pickstown, SD.
He loved to fish, but wasn't very good at it. Most of the time he slept during his fishing trips! He could not pass a garage sale up. You just never knew when that rare toy would be found. Bill collected old toy trucks & tractors, and collected the Hesston Pro Rodeo belt buckles. He loved to play jokes on his friends at the coffee shop, and then you would hear the replay for years to come, while he laughed at himself for pulling it off. He always tried to look serious, but that sly sneaky smile would start to show through. He loved kids, and the kids loved him .Even as they grew older, they would still stop him and relive then memories he made for them.
He was a member of the Eagles, American Legion, Masonic Lodge, and Shriners.
Bill is survived by his wife, Helen Van Wyhe ( Schoellerman); daughters, Sundee Higel, Connie Woods, and Gina Andujo; sons, William Van Wyhe Jr., Neal DeRaad, and Kris Van Wyhe; sisters, Marsha Van Gelder, Jewell Skipper, and Karen Reinking; brother, Philip Van Wyhe; sisters-in-law, Cathy Van Wyhe, and Angie Van Wyhe; brothers-in-law, Deb Skipper and Ken Reinking; daughter-in-law, Carolyn DeRaad; sons-in-law, David Andujo and Doug Higel; and too many dang grand kids, great-grand kids, and great-great-grand kids.
Bill was preceded in death by his dad and mom, Bryan Van Wyhe and Alice Van Wyhe (Ganzeveld); his brother, David Van Wyhe; ex-wife, Lois Spauling (Van Wyhe, Herman); brother-in-law, Ed Van Gelder; and daughter-in-law, Doris Van Wyhe ( Kulow).

Visitation