Arnie Ver Hoef

Arnie Ver Hoef, 80, of Sioux Center, IA died Friday, March 14, 2014 at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. A visitation will be held on Monday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 5-7PM at the Central Reformed Church of Sioux Center. A family prayer service will be held on Tuesday at 10:00AM at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. A celebration of life service will be held Tuesday at 11:00AM at First Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Van Rathbun and Rev. David Bast officiating. In lieu of flowers the Ver Hoef Family prefer memorials be directed to Atlas of Sioux Center and ViBella Jewelry. Arnold Glen Ver Hoef was born in rural Orange City, Iowa on July 9, 1933, to Bernard and Alvina (Alice Te Grotenhuis) Ver Hoef. Arnie was raised in Sioux Center, where his father, Bernie, was the proprietor of Ver Hoef Chevrolet. Arnie attended public school and graduated in 1951. He then went to Central College in Pella, Iowa, majoring in business, and graduated in May, 1955. He played on the basketball and tennis teams at Central. During college summer breaks Arnie had a job as lifeguard and swimming instructor at Sandy Hollow near Sioux Center. Throughout his life he was a sport enthusiast, attending all games of his children and grandchildren. Arnie was the largest supporter of any endeavor involving his children or grandchildren. On June 16, 1956, Specialist 3 Arnold Glen Ver Hoef and Ardene Ellen Sandbulte were married twice in Zwiebrucken, Germany. The first wedding took place that morning in the Rathaus (courthouse) in Midtown Zwiebrucken; the second wedding happened at 1:30 p.m. in the chapel at the Army post on the hills outside of town, with all of Arnie's company attending. Arnie entered the Army in June of 1955 and was discharged in May 1957. After returning from Germany, Arnie and Ardene purchased a house in Sioux Center. Arnie started delivering milk door-to-door in the early mornings, as he did during high school. Arnie also went to work for his father; at first he cleaned cars and later became a salesman for Ver Hoef Chevrolet. In 1962, he began to buy into the business with his brother, Bruce, and sold the business to his son-in-law, Kembe Hulstein, after retiring at the end of 2010. For over 50 years, he loved selling cars and was dedicated to his customers and employees. Arnie and Ardene joined the congregation of Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center, and Arnie was continually active there. He was passionate about outreach and charities for the Christian faith, and was especially active after his retirement. He served on the board of directors for King's Engineering, New Life Treatment Center, Huntington's Disease Foundation of America (South Dakota Chapter), Hope Haven Foundation, the Northwest Iowa RCA Cursillo Secretariat, director of Words of Hope, Atlas of Sioux Center, including the Car Ministry, and board of directors for Vi Bella. Arnie is survived by his wife Ardene of Sioux Center; three children: son, Jay and Mary (Schoder) Ver Hoef from Fairbanks, Alaska; daughter, Anne and Mike Schoder from Anchorage, Alaska; daughter, Kathy and Kembe Hulstein of Sioux Center, Iowa; 7 grandchildren: Lander and Mariah Ver Hoef of Fairbanks, Alaska, Savanna (Hulstein) and Houston Hartwig, Jazmine, Rosette, and Stetson Hulstein all of Sioux Center, Sierra Hulstein of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and great-grandchild: Rhett Hartwig of Sioux Center. Arnie is also survived by a sister, Mary and Hoyt Acuff of Ames and brother, Bruce and Marty Ver Hoef of Sioux Center as well as his nieces and nephews. Arnie was preceded in death by his parents.