Henry Haak

Henry Haak, 82, of Sioux Center, IA, died at Sioux Center Health on Sunday, January 17th, 2016.

 A visitation will be held on Thursday January 21st, from 4-8PM, with the family present from 6-8PM at Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center.

 A funeral service will be held on Friday January 22nd, at 10:30AM at Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Duane Tinklenberg officiating. Interment will follow the funeral service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

 The Haak family prefers memorials to Sioux Center Christian School Foundation or Bethel Christian Reformed Church Building Fund.

 Henry Haak was born on April 8, 1933 to Abraham and Cornelia (Van Bemmel) Haak at a farm house in Lester, IA. He was raised in Hills, MN and received education thru the 12th grade at Hills Public School. He then worked at Fikse Produce until being drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953. After training, he spent most of his time stationed in Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1955. He attended Calvin College graduating in 1959 with a B.A. in Education. He taught for one year in Edgerton, MN after which he was united in marriage with Mariann Hoekman on June 1, 1960. They moved to Churchill, MT where he taught for six years at Manhattan Christian School. They moved to Sioux Center where he taught at Sioux Center Christian School for 29 years and acquired his Master’s Degree from Montana State University. He also worked during the summers part time for Westminster Seminary doing public relations. In retirement he worked part time for the U.S. Census Bureau for ten years.

He enjoyed gardening, fishing, and playing basketball in his younger years and listening to games more recently. He also enjoyed doing puzzles, spending time with grandchildren, reading and keeping up on current events and politics.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mariann Haak of Sioux Center; four children: Dawn and Phil Bonnema of Harrisburg, SD, Dora and Eric van der Giessen of Seattle, WA, Janice and Kevin Driesen of Hull and Stan and Brenda Haak of Sioux Center; 12 grandchildren; 4 step grandchildren; 3 step great grandchildren.

He is also survived by sisters and brothers-in-law: Alida and Alvin Verburg of Brandon, SD, Henrietta and Rich Haan of Sturgis, SD; brother and sister-in-law, Albert and Fran Haak of Luverne, MN; sisters-in-law: Henrietta Haak of Hills, MN, Juna Hoekman of Holland, MI, Thelma Hoekman of Holland, MI, Joanne Hoekman of Rutland, SD; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Edith and Earl Hemmeke of Holland, MI, Carol and Jean La Perriere of Lake Placid, FL.

He was preceded in death by sister and brother-in-law, Marie and Albertus Koedam; brother, Gerald Haak; brothers-in-law: John Vander Kooi, Alvin Hoekman, Marvin Hoekman and Ben Hoekman.