Mr. Herman Van Der Vliet, age 98, of Hull, passed away on Sunday, January 26, 2014, at the Sioux Center Community Hospital
There will be a memorial service on Friday, January 31, at 11:00am, at the First Reformed Church in Hull. The Rev. Kevin Yurk will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the Hope Cemetery in Hull. There will be a family prayer service on Friday, at 10:00am, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Hull.
Visitation will be after 4:00pm on Thursday, with the family present from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the funeral home.
Herman was born on January 30, 1915, in rural Hull, the son of Gradus and Johanna Hendrika (Beyer) Van Der Vliet. He was raised at Hull.
On February 3, 1937, he married Gertrude Mulder, on the farm where Herman was born near Hull. They farmed between Boyden and Hull until 1963, when they moved into the house that Herman helped build in Hull. On the farm, Herman had one of the first automated milking systems and one of the first cement block barns. He could fix anything and invented several items for his own use. After moving to town, Herman was the farm manager for Kooiker Land and Investment Co. for several years. He later worked for Mesman Construction and then B&L Plumbing. He also enjoyed helping out on the Glen Vander Zwaag farm, as needed. Gertrude passed away on May 10, 1994, in Sioux City.
In 2002, Herman became a resident of the Colony House Condominiums, and in 2009, he moved to the Pleasant Acres Care Center, both in Hull.
He was a lifelong member of the First Reformed Church where he participated in Sunday School and faithfully attended Men’s Brotherhood for many years. He was known for his sense of humor and remembered many old songs from his youth. He and his wife enjoyed traveling, camping, fishing, and participating in mission projects in other parts of the country.
Survivors include four children, Gerald Van Der Vliet, and his wife, Jeannie, of Hospers; Keith Van Der Vliet, of Marco Island, Florida; Kevin Van Der Vliet, of George; and Sherri, and her husband, Corky Koerselman, of Sibley; a son-in-law, Dan Smith, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; ten grandchildren, Sandee (Patrick) Juhl, Deb (Dave) Dibbet, Donna Van’t Hof, Brian (Melody) Van Der Vliet, Dana (Jim) Daniels, Daniel (Denise) Smith, Jamie (John) Lindgren, Stephanie (Matt) Ingram, Beau (Rebecca) Koerselman, and Kaitlin (Cody) Raak; 22 great-grandchildren; fifteen great-great-grandchildren; a sister, Henrietta Meendering, of Martinsdale; seven sisters-in-law, Darlene Van Der Vliet, of California; Albertha Van Der Vliet, of Colton, South Dakota; Henrietta Wassenaar; Joan Boeve; Evelyn Rens; Catherine De Wit; and LaVonne, and her husband, Hilmore Kroeze; a brother-in-law, Anthony Smit; and several nephews and nieces.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Lolita Smith; two daughters-in-law, Mary Van Der Vliet and Patricia Van Der Vliet; two brothers, Henry John Van Der Vliet and Stanley Van Der Vliet; four sisters and their husbands, Matilda and Isaac Kuipers, Annetta and Gerrit Ter Maat, Julia and Lawrence Bylsma, and Bernice and Henry Vink; and a brother-in-law, Bernard Meendering.
Memorials may be directed to Hope Haven in Rock Valley.
