Rodney Sandbulte

Rodney Sandbulte Funeral Service Livestream

Rodney Sandbulte Funeral Service Livestream YouTube

Visitation will be on Sunday, September 7th from 4:00 to 6:00 PM, with family present at Carmel Reformed Church in Carmel.

The celebration of life service will be 10:30 AM, Monday, September 8th at Carmel Reformed Church in Carmel, Iowa, with Rev. Dave Van Kley officiating. Burial will follow at Carmel Cemetery.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the staff at Sioux Center Health for the excellent care they provided for Rodney.

Memorials may be directed to the Sandbulte family for later designation.

Rodney Dean was born on October 6, 1944, on the family farm near Carmel. He was the youngest of fourteen children born to William and Rebecca (Wesselink) Sandbulte. He attended Carmel country school through eighth grade and then graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1962.

While in high school, Rodney met Carol Jean Driesen. They were united in marriage at the First Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley on March 19, 1965. They lived on the family acreage where he continued to farm with his dad until he took over the farming operation. Rodney worked the land and was a dairy farmer until 2004 when he sold the dairy side of the operation. In his spare time, he played softball for the Carmel fast pitch team. He played third base and helped Carmel become one of the top fast pitch teams in the area.

Rodney was a hard worker, loving husband, a dedicated father and an amazing grandfather. He cherished time spent with his children and grandchildren; they were his pride and joy. A few of his favorite activities were spent with his family, taking his kids and grandkids fishing in the summer and in the winter giving them sled rides behind his tractor. He was his children and grandchildren's biggest supporter and fan, rarely missing any of their activities. He loved each of them dearly and was so proud of them all.

He was a lifelong member of the Carmel Reformed Church and volunteered for many years teaching both Sunday school and Catechism. He was well known for handing out golden dollar coins to his grandchildren and other children from the church. Another way Rodney gave back was donating blood at the local blood drives in town. He was a loyal and proud blood donor who donated over 18 gallons of blood to help others.

Rodney loved the Lord! His deepest longing was that his children and grandchildren would have a personal relationship with Jesus. He would often pray that they would “Grow in their love for the Lord” and accept the salvation that he offers.

Rodney Sandbulte, age 80 of Carmel, Iowa, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, September 2, 2025.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 60 years, Carol Sandbulte; seven children, Gwen (Dan) Klein, Kris (Jeff) Altena, Deb (Dan) Fedders, Rick (Sara) Sandbulte, Marlin Sandbulte, Greg (Rachel) Sandbulte, Kim (Derick) Niemeyer; a son-in-law, Paul Albert; thirty grandchildren Matthew (Amy) Davelaar, Karrisa Roetman, Brandon (Amanda) Huisman, Torin Huisman, Noah Klein; Micah (Marina) Albert, Jacob Albert, Karlee Albert and Paityn Albert; Alexa (Aaron) Van Vugt, Emalee (Jackson) Tuttle and Jordin Altena; Caitlynn Fedders (fiancé Dillan Baartman), Jayden (Colyn) Oostenink, and Brianna Fedders; Aubie (Tyler) Meyer, Alyssa Mulder (fiancé Spencer Richter), Gabby Contreras (fiancé Briggs Friedmann), Taya Sandbulte, Kylee Sandbulte, and Yesenia Santis; Brooklyn Sandbulte, Cody Sandbulte, Savannah Sandbulte and Mason Sandbulte; Jayse Niemeyer, Karsten Niemeyer, Blake Niemeyer, Brexton Niemeyer and Colter Niemeyer; ten great-grandchildren; a sister, Laura Westra, a brother-in-law Jim Westra, and a sister-in-law Bernice (Sandbulte) Tilstra; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Rebbeca Sandbulte; an infant daughter; his daughter, Cathy Albert; siblings, infant brother, Henry Bernard Sandbulte; Henrietta (John) Draayer, Sharon (Ed) Kats, John (Hermina) Sandbulte, Lloyd Sandbulte, Duane Sandbulte, Hermina (August) Ykema, Angeline (Calvin) Korver, Iola (Frank) Statema, Fonda (Richard) Kooistra, Howard (Bernice) Sandbulte and Glen Sandbulte, sister-in-law Elaine Kats and brother-in-law Ferd Tilstra.