Christopher James Kannegieter

Rock Rapids, Iowa Chris Kannegieter, age 28 of Little Rock, IA died unexpectedly, Thursday, April 5, 2012 at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM, Monday, April 9th at the First Reformed Church of Rock Rapids, with Rev. Dan Haggar and Rev. Katie Van Veldhuizen officiating. Burial will follow at the Pleasant View Cemetery in Little Rock, IA. Visitation will be Sunday, April 8th from 3:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids. The Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids is in charge of services. Christopher James Kannegieter was born on January 13, 1984 in Worthington, MN, the son of James E. and Linda K. (Thiesse) Kannegieter. Chris attended school in Little Rock and graduated from George Little Rock High School in 2002. During his school age years he enjoyed GO-CART racing and snowmobiling. Following his graduation he worked for the Little Rock Elevator and later Exopack in Sibley, IA for a time, and then in 2005 he began working for Demco in Boyden, IA. On November 8, 2008, he was united in marriage to Michelle L. DeBuhr at the First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids, IA. The couple made their home in Little Rock and to this union two children were born, Ava Lynn and Cole James Kannegieter. He was a member of the Little Rock Fire Department. He valued the time spent with his Dad, as a partner in their business called Gator Cleaners . In his spare time he participated in the Figure 8 races at the Heritage Days Celebration and Lyon County Fair. He also enjoyed spending time with friends at Lake Shetek in Slayton, MN. Chris was a very hard worker and enjoyed helping the farmers in the area during the harvest season. He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, son, grandson and friend. His family will miss his great sense of humor and easy smile. Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Michelle Kannegieter and their two children, Ava and Cole of Little Rock, IA; his parents, James and Linda Kannegieter and brother, Austin Jon Kannegieter of Little Rock, IA; paternal grandmother, Marge Kannegieter of Little Rock, IA and maternal grandmother, Joanne Thiesse of Little Rock, IA; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Richard and Lori DeBuhr of Rock Rapids, IA; sister-in-law, Tracy (husband, Eric) Breuer and their daughter, Teeghan of Rock Valley, IA; and several aunts, uncles, cousins and other extended family. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Jr. John Kannegieter and maternal grandfather, William Dale Thiesse.