Brian Brent Hellenga

Rock Rapids, IA CLICK HERE TO WATCH LIVESTREAM

     Brian Hellenga of Rock Rapids, Iowa died unexpectedly Monday, July 4, 2022, at his home in Rock Rapids.

     Funeral service will be 1:00 PM, Friday, July 8^th at First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids, IA, with Rev. Amy Ryals and Rev. Steve Van Wyhe officiating.

     Visitation will be Thursday, July 7^th from 4:00 to 7:00, with the family present 5:00 to 7:00 at First Reformed Church in Rock Rapids.

     Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids.

     Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids is in charge of services.

     Brian Brent Hellenga was born on September 17, 1951, in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest of 10 children, and the son of Al and Margaret (Kieldsen) Hellenga. He spent his early years in Hospers, Iowa until the death of his father, Al, in 1959, when he moved with his mother, Margaret, a brother and sister, to northern Michigan. After Margaret’s death in October 1959, he lived with his sister Barbara and her husband, Gordon Bloemendaal, first in Michigan, then in Hospers, Orange City, Cedar Falls, Waterloo, and again in and near Hospers. In 1969, Brian graduated from Floyd Valley High School. He attended the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls where he met his life partner, Glenda Niemeyer. They were married on December 30, 1970, after which they moved to Orange City, where Brian attended Northwestern College, graduating in 1974. They then moved to Holland, Michigan where Brian attended Western Theological Seminary, graduating in 1977. Son Chad Alan was born in 1971. Son Ryan Gene was born in 1975.

     Brian received and accepted a call to be the minister at the First Reformed Church in Melvin, Iowa, spending five years there. He then accepted a call from the Salem Reformed Church in Little Rock, Iowa, spending 29 years as their pastor.

     In 2011, Brian and Glenda moved to Rock Rapids, Iowa. Glenda continued to work at the Rock Rapids Public Library and Brian began working at Valley Machining Company in Rock Valley, Iowa. Brian retired from Valley Machining in 2021 and enjoyed working part-time at Simply Said in Rock Rapids.

     Brian became an Emergency Medical Technician in 1982 and served actively for over thirty years. He also taught EMT classes for Northwest Iowa Community College for 39 years. Brian was on the fire department in Little Rock for 20 years, a member of the local service club, a volunteer at the local school, as well as a participant in many community activities. Brian served on various committees, was the president, and the Stated Clerk for 17 years, all for Classis West Sioux of the Reformed Church in America.

     Brian enjoyed spending time with his four grandchildren: Adrianna, Samantha, William, and Dalton. He was also grateful to be able to meet his great-grandson Jameson. He always felt blessed by God for the life he had, especially for his family; Glenda, Chad and Wendy, Ryan and Michelle, Anna, Sam, Will and Dalton, for extended family, and for good friends. He was also grateful for the many opportunities he had to serve others.

    Left to cherish his memory is a wife, Glenda Hellenga; two sons, Chad (Wendy) Hellenga and Ryan (Michelle) Hellenga; four grandchildren, Adrianna Hellenga, Samantha Hellenga, William Hellenga, and Dalton Hellenga; one great-grandson, Jameson Korthals; one sister, Faye (Ron) Hoffmeyer; one brother, Ron (Sheryl) Hellenga; two sisters-in-law, Susan Hellenga and Myra Hellenga; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, Al and Margaret Hellenga; five brothers, Robert (Charlotte) Hellenga, Irving Hellenga, Wayne (Janice) Hellenga, John Hellenga and Allan Hellenga; two sisters, Barbara (Gordon) Bloemendaal and Eleanor Hellenga; a sister-in-law, Renate Hellenga; a father-in-law, Gerrit Niemeyer; and brother-in-law, Harlan Niemeyer.