Obit: Van Dyk, John (1932 - 2010) 
 

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Van Dyk, Huls, De Berg, Mason, Knutson, Rakestraw, Jackson, Hale, Sukopp, Ihnken, Rendell, Stoerp, Dickerson, Drescher 
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) June 2, 2010 
 

Van Dyk, John (1 July 1932 - 26 May 2010) 
 

John Van Dyk, 77, of Chili died Wednesday, may 26, 2010 at the House of the Dove in Marshfield. 
 

John Van Dyk was born July 1, 1932, the son of John and Wimke (Huls) Van Dyk, in Melvin, IA, where his family farmed and where John attended the Ocheyedan #9 Country School.  He was united in marriage Aug. 12, 1954 to Delores De Berg at the First Reformed Church in Melvin, IA. They farmed in Minnesota and moved to May City, IA, in 1959 and lived there until 1963 when they moved to a farm in Chili.  While farming, John also worked at the Canning Factory in Loyal and later the Norwood Health Care Center in Marshfield for 29 years.  He performed various jobs there such as a technician, ward clerk and maintenance.  
 

John loved horses, playing horseshoes, bowling, fishing, hunting, pool and roller skating.  He was known for his good sense of humor, and he enjoyed a good strawberry shake every now and then.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren and having picnics with his bowling and horseshoe buddies.  John was an expert at breaking horses and loved going on trail rides. 
 

He is survived by his wife, Delores, of Chili; five grandchildren, Dawn Mason of Eau Claire, Becky (David) Knutson of Altoona, Crystal Rakestraw of River Falls, Allen-John Jackson of Boyd and Tanya (Mike) Hale of Neillsville; and seven great-grandchildren.  He is further survived by two brothers, George Van Dyk of Wisconsin Dells and Allen (Lila) Van Dyk of Sibley, IA, and a sister-in-law, June Van Dyk of Boyden, IA. 
 

John was preceded in death by his parents; a son, James Van Dyk; a daughter, Diane Rakestraw; two great-grandchildren, Jason Sukopp and Desiree Knutson; an infant brother, Daniel; a sister, Anna Ihnken and brothers, Henry, Kobus and Daniel. 
 

Funeral services for John were held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 29, at the Immanuel United Methodist Church in Chili.  Pastor Sally Rendell officiated.  Music was provided by Sally Rendell and Jerry Stoerp, vocalists, Dale Dickerson, guitarist and Charlotte Drescher, organist. Visitation was held from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday prior to the service at the church.  Interment was in the Immanuel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Chili. 
 

Online condolences may be made at www.GescheFH.com.  
 

The Gesche Funeral Home is assisting John’s family with funeral arrangements.