Eugene Vonk

Eugene Arthur Vonk, age 79, of Sioux Center, Iowa died Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at Sioux Center Health in Sioux Center, Iowa.

On Friday, March 22, 2024, family prayer time will be held at 1 PM followed by burial at Memory Gardens Cemetery.  A memorial service will be at 2 PM on Friday, March 22, 2024, at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center, Iowa.

Visitation with family present will be from 5-7 PM on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center. 

In lieu of flowers or gifts the family prefer memorials be directed to Bethel Christian Reformed Church missions.

Gene was raised in Sioux County, Iowa where he attended Center township country school until third grade when his parents moved to Sioux Center.  He then attended Sioux Center Community School.

Gene loved God’s earth and enjoyed farming since he was sixteen.   He was blessed to be able to farm for 60 years and watch seeds grow.  He was amazed each planting season how a few small seeds could produce such a large crop at harvest.  He was an avid Oliver tractor collector.  He served as a Cadet counselor at church and helped at the annual Christian school auction.

Growing up, Gene was blessed with two families.  He was the youngest of 11 children, and so he considered his nieces and nephews his “second” family.  His favorite family activity was camping and boating trips to Yankton, SD.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren from farming to playing Barbies.  Dogs were special, and Barley and Lassie were favorites.  In his later years, he enjoyed wintering in Arizona, where he spent much time 4-wheeling in the desert and playing games and cards with friends and family.

On August 15, 1963, Gene married Judi Van Dyke in Sanborn, Iowa.  The couple made their home west of Sioux Center for all but two years, when they lived by Luverne, Minnesota.  They moved to Sioux Center in 2010.

Gene is survived by his wife, Judi, of 60 years and their children:  

Valerie (Kevin) Vande Kamp 

            Erica & Donald Roth; Piper, Liam, Bridget

            Ryan & Michal Vande Kamp; Theo, Camila

Jeffrey (Gail) Vonk

            Anton & Emily Vonk

            Barret Vonk

Sue (Ryan) Moret

            Jacob Moret; Addyson, Kipton, Boyd

            Jade & Chris Hubers; Cecelia

            Josh & Jill Moret; Landry, Emmett

            Jonah & Olivia Moret; Colter, Willow

Scott (Stephanie) Vonk

            Trinity & Tanner Douma

            Chloe & fiancé Zach Oolman

James (Erica) Vonk

            Samantha & Lukas VanderStoep; Elijah, Levi

            Hudson Vonk

            Aubrey Vonk        

Siblings, Dorothy & Andy VanBochove, Kathy VandeKieft, brother-in-law, Elmer VandeBerg.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben & Jennie (Katze) Vonk, grandson, Seth Vande Kamp, and siblings:  Henry & Gertrude Vonk, George & Henrietta Vonk, Chris Vonk, Ben & Wynn Vonk, Jeanette & John Feekes, Gerrit & Jennie Vonk, Gertrude VandeBerg, Peter & Donna Vonk, Goldie & Duane De Jager; brother-in-law, Harold VandeKieft; 8 nephews and nieces.