John Vander Sluis, age 81, of Sheldon, Iowa passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2014 at the Promise Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.
His services will be 10:30am Friday, January 10, 2014 at the United Methodist Church in Sheldon, Iowa with Rev. Kevin Gingerich officiating. Burial will be in the East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon, Iowa
Visitation will be after 2:00pm Thursday, January 9, 2014 with the family present from 5:00 – 7:00pm at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon, Iowa.
The Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Sheldon is in charge of Arrangements
Online memorial condolences may be sent to: vanderploegfunerals.com
John Gordon Vander Sluis, the son of John and Cora (Veldboom) Vander Sluis was born on May 19, 1932 in Orange City, Iowa. He attended country school in Sanborn, Iowa and graduated from Archer High School in 1950. On July 16, 1951 John was united in marriage to Marlys Koepnick in Worthington, Minnesota. After their marriage the couple farmed by Archer until moving into Archer in 1987. They lived in Archer for twenty years and moved to Sheldon in 2006. The couple wintered in Mesa, Arizona for the past eighteen winters. John passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2014 at the Promise Hospital of Phoenix, Arizona reaching the age of 81 years, 7 months and 16 days.
John was a member of Archer United Methodist Church and currently a member of Sheldon United Methodist Church. He served on many boards which included: Archer Coop, REC, Handicap Village, Farmers Coop Oil, Security State Bank, Archer United Methodist Church and was the condo President in Sheldon. He never knew a stranger as he always had a handshake for everyone. He never lost a bid playing cards. He enjoyed golfing, traveling, farming, his farm dog, Abby and spending time with his family, grandchildren and great grandchildren; he loved everyone.
Left to cherish John’s memory is his wife of 62 years, Marlys Vander Sluis of Sheldon; children, Connie Schieber of Omaha, Nebraska; Randy and his wife, Pam Vander Sluis of Archer, Iowa; LuAnn and her husband, John Beckel of Des Moines and Becky Brown; eleven grandchildren, Jon Paul (Sarah) Schieber, Cori (Chris) Miller, Matt (Stacy) Schieber, Karrie Vander Sluis, Lorrie (Don) McDonald, Greg (Jenni) Vander Sluis, Adam (Angie) Beckel, Megan Beckel, Scott (Mandi) Koerselman, Nate (Cory) Koerselman and Ashley Irving; nineteen great grandchildren; brother, Les and his wife, Bev Douma of Orange City, Iowa; sisters-in-law, Phyllis and LaVonne Vander Sluis.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Harold and Ron Vander Sluis.
