Henry Van Aalsburg

Henry Van Aalsburg, 90 of Boyden Iowa died Saturday, September 19, 2009 at the Sibley Nursing & Rehab Center in Sibley, Iowa.



A funeral service will be held Tuesday at 11AM at First Reformed Church of Boyden with Rev. Matthew Draffen and Rev. Leon Pannkuk officiating. Interment will follow the service in Sheridan Township Cemetery of Boyden.



A visitation will be held Tuesday 9:30AM to until service time at First Reformed Church of Boyden.

The Van Aalsburg family prefers memorials to The Bible League, PO Box 28000, Chicago, IL 60628.

Henry "Hank" Van Aalsburg was born on May 12, 1919 to Gerrit and Sarah (Steenhoven) Van Aalsburg in Sheldon, Iowa. Henry was raised around the Sheldon area and was educated through the 8th grade in various country schools in O'Brien, Sioux and Lyon counties.

Henry was inducted into the United States Army on January 26, 1942. He was sworn in at Fort Des Moines in Des Moines, Iowa. He was stationed at Camp Wolters, Camp Barclay and Fort Hood.

When Henry was on furlough, he and Anna Mae Van De Hoef were married on December 6, 1943 at her parent's farm near Boyden, Iowa. Their first residence was in Franklin, Indiana where Henry was stationed at Camp Atterbury. When Henry received his orders to go overseas, Anna Mae returned to Boyden to stay with her parents. Henry traveled to Europe on "The Amsterdam". He served with the 610 Tank Destroyer Battalion and was promoted to the Staff Sergeant of Company B. His overseas tour took him through France, Germany and Belgium. He served under General George S. Patton and was involved in heavy combat during the Battle of the Bulge. Henry received a Silver Star for bravery in action on April 13, 1945. He was Honorably Discharge onOctober 14, 1945.

When Henry returned home, he and Anna Mae began farming near Archer, Iowa. After a few years there, they moved near Boyden, and farmed there until they retired from farming in 1972. They moved into Boyden and Henry began working for the Farmer's Cooperative Gas Station driving a gas tank wagon truck until his full retirement in 1981. Henry and Anna Mae moved to the Christian Retirement Home in Sheldon, Iowa in 2001. They moved to the Sibley Nursing and Rehab Center in March of 2007.

Henry was a long-time member of the First Reformed Church in Boyden. He served as an Elder on the Consistory for many years, as well as Sunday School Superintendent. Henry was an active member of the American Legion. Henry enjoyed farming, as well as serving his customers at the Co-op, his church activities, being with friends and family and traveling with Anna Mae to visit their children and grandchildren. In September of 1985 Henry and Anna Mae enjoyed a trip to Europeand were able to see many countries where Henry was during WWIIin more favorable circumstances.

Survivors include one son, Ken of Santa Clara, California; two daughters and sons-in-law: Joy and Jack Gorzeman of San Marcos, California and Marlene and Leon Pannkuk of St. Louis, Missouri; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Henry is also survived by one sister: Sarah Uittenbogaard of Lake Park, Iowa; brother and sister-in-law: Jerry and Alma Van Aalsburg of Modesto, California and sister-in-law: Johanna Harmelink of Sheldon, Iowa. Survivors also include other in-laws, nephews and nieces who loved "Uncle Hank" dearly.

Henry is preceded in death by his wife, Anna Mae; his parents; one sister: Johanna Rons; and five brothers: Joe, John, Martin, Peter and Albert Van Aalsburg.