Clarence Block

Little Rock, IA Clarence Block, age 81of Little Rock, IA, died Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral service will be 10:30 AM Friday, December 4th, 2009 at Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, IA, with Reverend Brian Hellenga officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Little Rock, IA. Visitation will be Thursday, December 3rd from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley. Clarence Block was born May 2, 1928 to Henry and Margaret (Klaassen) Block in rural Little Rock IA. He was raised in the Little Rock area and received his education at a country school near Little Rock. Clarence helped his father with farming and operating the Henry Block & Sons trucking business. On July 22, 1949, Clarence was united in marriage to Eileen De Beer at the Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock. The couple lived several places until 1955 when they moved to a farm west of Little Rock and in 1995 they retired and built a home in Little Rock. On November 24, 2006, Eileen passed away ending their marriage of 57 years. He continued to live in their home in Little Rock. Clarence was a member of the Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock where he served as Deacon and Elder. He and Eileen loved to travel and wintered in Apache Junction, AZ for many years. They also pulled their camper many times to the Clay County Fair in Spencer. Clarence was a farmer through and through. Although Clarence and Eileen had their farm sale in 1992, he never did really retire. He stayed active working with his son-in-law and now his grandsons with the farming even helping to bring in the crop this year. This past Tuesday morning, Clarence died at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls at the age of 81. He will be greatly missed. Clarence is survived by his three daughters, Joleen Odens of Little Rock, Janelle (Ron) Sybesma of Newton, KS, and MarJean (Arden) Kopischke of Little Rock; eight grandchildren, Jennifer (Aaron) Greve, Ryan Odens, and Nick (Vanessa) Odens, all of Little Rock; Kyle Sybesma of Westminster, CO, Kalin Sybesma of Wichita, KS, Amy (Scott) Kruse of Little Rock, IA, Alicia (Craig) Ver Huel of Ankeny, IA, and Ashley Kopischke of Little Rock; three great grandchildren, Emily and Tyler Greve and Taryn Odens; two step great grandchildren, Bodie Osborn and Bretton Urban; sister, Darlene Heidebrink of Ellsworth, MN; brother, Virgil (Betty) Block of Adrian, MN; sister-in-law, JoAnn Block of Little Rock, IA, sister-in-law, Verla De Beer of St. Louis, MO; and special friend, Thelma Peters. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of fifty-seven years, Eileen Block; brother, Clifford Block; brother-in-law, Arthur Heidebrink; brother-in-law, Wayne De Beer; and son-in-law, Rod Odens.