Herman Van Donge

            Herman John Van Donge, age 79 of rural Maurice, IA  died Thursday May 12, 2016, at his home. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday May 17 at Faith Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center, IA with Reverend Bob Pollema officiating. There will be a prayer service at 9:30 a.m. at the church with Interment at 10 a.m. in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. Graveside military honors will be conducted by Doornink-Brunsting Post 199 American Legion.  Visitation will be held on Monday May 16th from 4-8pm with the family present from 5-7pm at Faith Christian Reformed Church. Services are entrusted to Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

            Herman John Van Donge was born June 9th, 1936 to Bart and Hattie (Lammers) Van Donge in Sioux Center, IA. He was raised on the family farm in rural Sioux Center, received his education at Sioux Center Christian School, Western Christian High School, and Dordt College.

            Herm served in the Marine Corp and married Nellie (Huisman) on January 1st 1960. They returned from stationing in California, and service to our country, to settle on the family farm where they farmed until 1987. In addition to farming, Herm drove bus for Area 4 for 25-years, worked on the sanitation night crew at Tyson Foods, and for the past 15-plus years, maintenance and greeter at Walmart where he touched many lives with his pleasant “Welcome to Walmart” greeting, a quick joke, and “Thank you for Shopping at Walmart”. Herm enjoyed fishing, playing cards, and his children and grandchildren.

            Those left to cherish his memories are his wife Nellie of 56 years and their six children, Tim of Sioux Center, Allison (Tim) Floen of Maurice, David of Sioux Center, Phil (Marissa Hegeman) of Hull, Paul of Boyden, and John (Melanie Benjamins) of St. Catherines Ontario, Canada. Herm enjoyed spending time with his 9 grandchildren. Also left to cherish his memories is his sister, Henrietta “Girlie” Dibbet.

            Herm was proceeded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Florence and Albert Hooyer, his brother and sister-in-law Rich and Ida Van Donge, brothers-in-law, John Dibbet, and Elmer Reitveld.

            Casket bearers will be Zachary Floen Aaron Floen, Jacob Floen, Rylee Van Donge, Byron “Byke” Van Donge and Bruce Hooyer.

The Van Donge family prefers donations directed to Hospice.