John Obbink

John W. Obbink was born near Hawarden, Iowa to R. J. and Nellie (Brunsting) Obbink. He was raised in the Hawarden area and was baptized in the Hawarden Christian Reformed Church. As a young man he worked for various area farmers.

On March 10, 1950, he married Donna Mae Velgersdyk at his parents home near Hawarden. John and Donna made their home by Hawarden where they farmed and raised their six children.

John was active in the Hawarden Christian Reformed Church. He also served on the Hawarden Christian School Board and Unity Christian High School Board. He was President of Hawarden Kiwanis and served on the Sioux County Zoning Board. In 1971, He graduated from the Mason City Auctioneering School and often auctioned for charity fundraisers.

John and Donna moved away from their farm in 1983 to do mission work in Rolling Fork, MS. In 1984, they moved to Sioux Center and John worked for Culligan Water. He served as elder for Covenant Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center and later became a member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church in 1989.

For the past 20 years, the couple wintered in Magic Valley Park, in Weslaco, TX. John served as President of the park for 2 years. John led the Bible study group at the park for many years. He retired in 1991.

John enjoyed collecting coins, playing pool and cribbage with his friends at the Senior Center and at home with his family. He was happiest when spending time with his family. He often volunteered to drive truck for Hope Haven International Ministries. John and Donna once accompanied a load of refurbished wheelchairs to Viet Nam.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Donna of Sioux Center; six children and their spouses: Diana and Wes Dykstra of Hull, Duane and Arlis (Van Bochove) of Rock Valley, Janene and Arlin Van Gorp of Sioux Center, Judy and Dean Wiersma of Ft. Collins, CO, Valerie and Doug Vreugdenhil of Sioux Center and Dr. John and Cindy (Perry) Obbink of Ft. Worth, TX; 18 grandchildren, 10 of whom are married; 11 great-grandchildren; three brothers and sisters-in-law: Earl and Janice Obbink of Littleton, CO, Harvey and Mary Obbink of Orange City and Melvin and Darlene Obbink of Sioux City; two sisters and brothers-in-law: Irene and Mitch Van Berkel of Edgerton, MN, Geneva and Vern Van Zanten of Pella, IA; sisters-in-law, Wilma Obbink of Hawarden and Betty Obbink of Edgerton, MN. Also left to cherish Johns memory are Donnas sisters, Gladys Edmunds and Myva Larson and her husband Gilmore all of Hawarden and many nephews, nieces and friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers: Ernest, Rich and Ed Obbink; brother-in-law, William Edmunds and brother-in-law and sister-in-law, George and Marge Abbott.