Clarence Van Wyhe

Clarence Van Wyhe, age 76 of Rock Rapids, IA died Friday, December 18, 2009 at Sanford Hospital in Rock Rapids. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Monday, Dec. 21st at First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids, IA, with Rev. Dan Haggar and Rev. Katie Van Veldhuizen officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids. Visitation will be Sunday, Dec. 20th from 2:00 to 5:00 PM, with the family present from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids. Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids is in charge of services. Clarence Van Wyhe was born October 27, 1933 on the family farm northwest of Steen, Minnesota, the son of James and Fannie (Zwart) Van Wyhe. He attended country school and Luverne High School. After his education he remained with his family helping with the day to day operation of the farm. He also worked at a service station in Luverne. On April 20, 1955, Clarence was united in marriage to Arlene De Noble at her parents farm north of Rock Rapids, IA. They lived and farmed with his parents for a short while and later moved to a farm near Arlenes parents, north of Rock Rapids. In 1966 they had a farm sale and moved to a home in Rock Rapids. Clarence began driving truck, transporting livestock for Weerheim Trucking. He then drove for Mouw Transportation and later became an owner operator. In March of 1980 he leased on for Van Wyk Transportation. Clarence drove over six million miles accident free. His last day of driving truck was July 25, 2009. In late August of 2009 Clarence was diagnosed with cancer. This past Friday, December 18, 2009, Clarence died at the Sanford Hospital in Rock Rapids, at the age of 76. Clarence was a member of First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids. He enjoyed fixing things, riding motorcycle and camping. Clarence and Arlene were blessed with many big trips on their motorcycle, starting in 1978. His family will remember their husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, as a strong person, who was always happy and always on the go, showing his love of life. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Arlene Van Wyhe of Rock Rapids, IA; two children, Gary (his wife, Karen) Van Wyhe of Rock Rapids, IA and Jan (her husband, Wade) Gort of Rock Valley, IA; five grandchildren, Jill (her husband, Jerry) Pytleski of Rock Rapids, IA, Mike (his wife, Amy) Van Wyhe of West Bend, IA, Megan (her husband, Marcus) Leloux of Sioux Falls, SD, Molly (her husband, Curt) Schilling of Ellsworth, MN and Spencer Gort of Rock Valley, IA; two brothers, Henry (his wife, Clazina) Van Wyhe of Sioux Falls, SD and Raymond (his wife, Carol) Van Wyhe of Luverne, MN; one sister, Joann (her husband, Stan) Westra of Hull, IA; and many other extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Fannie Van Wyhe; and sister-in-law, Carol Van Wyhe.