Jacob Van Den Hul, age 81 of Sioux Center, IA, died Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at Whispering Heights Care Center in Rock Valley, IA.

A funeral service will be held at 11:30 AM, Tuesday, June 16th, at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center, with Rev. Dr. Cliff Hoekstra officiating. Private interment will take place prior to the service in Memory Garden Cemetery in Sioux Center, IA. Livestream of Funeral Service

Visitation will be on Monday, June 15th, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, with the family present at Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center.

Memorials may be directed to Transport for Christ or Whispering Heights Trolley Fund.

Jacob “Jake” Van Den Hul was born December 6, 1944, in Rock Rapids, Iowa, the son of Cornelius and Christine (Hop) Van Den Hul. He grew up in Rock Rapids and graduated from Central Lyon High School. He worked at Tony’s IGA in Rock Rapids in his younger years.

On July 22, 1966, Jake was united in marriage to Phyllis Weerheim at the First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids, Iowa. They made their home there for a few years and later moved to Huron, South Dakota, while Jake worked for Quaker Oats. They moved to Sioux Center in 1971, where Jake worked for Yellow Pages and sold feed. He then started over-the-road trucking, hauling cattle. He worked for Kenworth in Sioux City, where he began his career selling semis. He and Phyllis moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 1999, where he started selling semis at Peterbilt in Sioux Falls, until his “retirement” in September of 2017. Many of his customers throughout the years would comment, “He wasn’t just a salesman, he was a friend.” Jake would always tell his family, “I never had to go to work, I got to go to work.”

Jake moved to Orange City after retirement, and then later moved to Whispering Heights Senior Living in Rock Valley, IA, in April of 2021.

Music was a passion in Jake’s life. He and his family made four records. Jake was in multiple singing groups, but his pride and joy was Relative Harmony. He also loved playing games with his family members. He enjoyed snowmobile and motorcycle trips with his son, teaching his kids to fish, fishing at the Grade in Spirit Lake, the many hours spent with his son building his trike, and rides in the convertible. The most important thing to Jake was his family and grandchildren. He was a very devoted Christian man.

Those left to cherish his memory are his children: Troy “Buzz” Van Den Hul of Orange City, IA, Sharri Wheeler of Hardwick, MN, and Jacki White of Rock Valley, IA; his bonus daughter: Rhonda Bruggeman of Sioux Falls, SD; 18 Grandchildren; 14 Great grandchildren; brother: Herm (Dawn) VanDenHul of Sioux Center, IA, sisters: Antionette Griffin of Beaver Creek, MN, Cheryl (Cal) Westra of Mount Pleasant, TX, and Toni (Harold) Van Wyhe of Luverne, MN; brother in law Jim (Jill) Weerheim and sister in law Esther (Jack) Altman as well as numerous nieces and nephews, many extended family members, and multiple friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis; his parents, Cornelius and Christine; Mother-in-law, Ella Weerheim; Father-in-law, Phil Weerheim, as well as Grandson, Joey Slothouber; and Sister, Thelma Van Otterloo.

Blessed be his memory.