Rallyn Van Beek

Rallyn Van Beek, 80, of Sioux Center, IA, died Monday, March 9, 2015, at Sioux Center Health. A visitation will be held on Thursday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 5-7PM at the Christ Community Evangelical Free Church of Sioux Center. A prayer service for family and friends will be held on Friday at 9:30AM at the Christ Community Evangelical Free Church of Sioux Center. Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. A memorial service will be held on Friday at 10:30AM at the Christ Community Evangelical Free Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Randy Widbin officiating. The Van Beek family prefers memorials to Transport For Christ, International, PO Box 117, Marietta, PA 17547 Rallyn Harley Van Beek was born on a farm near Carmel, Iowa on May 9, 1934, to Neal and Wilmina (Schoep) Van Beek. He attended country school and attended Western Christian High School. He married his loving wife Carolyn (Heynen) on June 1, 1954 in Sioux Center, Iowa. They were blessed with four children, Arlis, Norlyn, Brenda, and Verlyn. The first years of their marriage, Rallyn and Carolyn farmed near Maurice, Iowa. They moved to Sioux Center where Rallyn operated a John Deere dealership for many years. The family lived next to the John Deere shop where many of the family were employed. Rallyn and his son, Norlyn, started EZ Fuels and Bio-Mass Energy a recycling business and also operated a plastic recycling business. To aid in this business, Rallyn invented a plastic grinding machine. He had the machine reproduced and sold to other recyclers. He and Norlyn also were consultants and salesmen for Lundell Mfg. of Cherokee, Iowa. Rallyn liked designing and making things, always coming up with some new idea. Rallyn was on the Sioux Center Chamber of Commerce Board, Sioux Center Community Hospital Board, and Sioux County Board of Adjustments. He was a member of Christ Community Evangelical Free Church in Sioux Center and served as both an elder and deacon. He was the chairman of the building committee when the current church facility was built. Later Rallyn became interested in the ministry of Transport for Christ, a mission organization dedicated to reaching, supporting and encouraging truck drivers. He became a chaplain to truck drivers and placed a truck chapel in Sioux Falls, SD, where he and Carolyn worked for 10 years. He was responsible for recruiting and training volunteer chaplains, fundraising for the chapel, as well as being a spiritual leader to drivers who came to the chapel or the truck stop lot. They found sharing the gospel, and making a difference in many lonely drivers' lives very fulfilling. Rallyn enjoyed riding horses and spent many hours riding in the Black Hills with family. He was a member of the Sioux Center Saddle Club and helped build the Saddle Club arena. The family also enjoyed snowmobiling, and camping. Rallyn loved music and enjoyed going to gospel concerts. Most of all he adored his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was always interested in their activities and was known as a great encourager to all. He and Carolyn spent 60 years together, enjoying their family, traveling, and sharing their faith. Rallyn passed away Monday, March 9, at Sioux Center Health after several illnesses. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Van Beek of Sioux Center; four children: Arlis De Boer of Sioux Center; Norlyn and Cherie (Arkema) Van Beek of Ireton, IA; Brenda and Cal Bolkema of Davenport, IA; Verlyn and Michelle (De Groot) Van Beek of Sioux Falls, SD; 17 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; three brothers: Erwin and Karen Van Beek, of Sioux Center, Virgil and Donna Van Beek of West Okoboji, IA, and Lloyd and Rosie Van Beek of Tucson, AZ; sister-in-law, Joyce Heynen of Sioux Center and brother-in-law, Jim and Sally Heynen of St. Paul, MN as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Neal and Wilmina Van Beek; his in-laws, Hilbert and Alice Heynen, a dear son-in-law, Ivan De Boer and brother-in-law, Wm. Heynen Jr.