Erwin Van Beek

Erwin “Red” Van Beek, age 85, of Sioux Center, Iowa died Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at Sioux Center Health in Sioux Center.  

A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, December 16, 2023, at New Life Church of Sioux Center, Iowa with Rev. Bobby Van Otterloo officiating.  A family graveside service will be held prior to the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center.   The service will be livestreamed on the New Life Church website.  

A visitation will be held from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Friday at the New Life Church of Sioux Center. 

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the Van Beek family prefers memorials be directed to Northwestern College.

Erwin Glen Van Beek was born on May 27, 1938, on a farm near Carmel, Iowa to Neal and Wilhelmina (Schoep) Van Beek. He attended country school and attended Sioux Center High School before he began a long career working hard as a farmer and seed salesman.

On November 25, 1958, Erwin was joined in marriage to Karen Den Herder in Sioux Center. He and Karen lived in Sioux Center together for 65 beautiful years as husband and wife. They were blessed with four children: Bryan, Leanne, Pamela, and Wendell.

One of Erwin’s greatest joys was being a husband, father, and grandfather. He spent the majority of his life farming and was also a salesman for John Deere and Kruger Seed for many years. He loved to golf and fish. He spent time serving in the National Guard. He also served on the fair board.

Erwin’s greatest joy in life was knowing Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. He loved the Lord, he loved God’s Word, and he loved Christ’s Church. He spent many years serving as an elder and as a Sunday school teacher. He loved praise music and quartets, and he could be found listening to Dale Baker every Sunday afternoon with his wife, Karen, often while completing a puzzle together.

Those who survive him are his wife: Karen Van Beek; two brothers: Virgil (and Donna) and Lloyd (and Rosie) Van Beek; sister-in-law, Caroline Van Beek; his four children: Bryan (and Brenda) Van Beek, Leanne (and Brad) Altena, Pamela (and Dan) Kruse, and Wendell (and Molly) Van Beek; 11 grandchildren, and 20 great-grandchildren.  

He was preceded in death by his parents; Neal and Wilhelmina Van Beek, and his brother; Rallyn Van Beek.