Keith Van Drunen

George, IA

     Keith Van Drunen age 73 of George, Iowa passed away Friday, February 11, 2022 at his home surrounded by his family.

     A funeral service will be 10:30 AM Thursday, February 17, 2022 at First Reformed Church in Sibley with Reverend Al Honken, officiating.  Burial will follow in the Holman Township Cemetery at Sibley.  A livestream link will be available here to view the service. Livestream Link Keith Van Drunen

     Visitation will be Wednesday, February 16^th from 4:00 to 7:00 PM with the family present at the First Reformed Church in Sibley. 

Keith Van Drunen, age 73, entered the Father’s Glory on February 11, 2022, after battling multiple health issues for many years.

Keith Van Drunen was born on July 29, 1948, to Henry Edsel and Jeanette “June” (Klinkkammer) Van Drunen in Storm Lake, IA. He remained in Storm Lake until 1955 when his family moved to the farm northwest of Sibley. Keith attended the Sibley school where he participated in FFA and football in high school and graduated in 1966. During high school Keith also attended welding classes at Northwest Iowa Vocational School in Sheldon. The day following high school graduation, at the age of 17, Keith began working at Lundell Manufacturing in Cherokee, IA. In 1968, after two years working at Lundell, Keith transitioned to a position at Sudenga Industries by George, Iowa. At Sudenga’s he began building and designing bulk feed bodies and eventually became the supervisor of the Bulk Feed Body Division. While this move was a step up the ladder, he would have traded the managerial duties for welding, as that is where his heart was.

During the time Keith was working at Sudenga Industries he was introduced to a young lady by the name of Janelle Kay Timmer from the Rock Rapids area. These two soon became inseparable and on May 14, 1971, they were united in marriage at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in George, IA. After their marriage they would move to an acreage north of Highway 9 where they sold and raised several different breeds of dogs. In 1974 they moved to their present acreage northeast of George. In 1975 they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Jamie. Keith enjoyed country life, planting the crops, caring for the sheep and lambs, and working around the yard taking care of the place. Planting season would find Keith and Janelle sitting together on their John Deere tractor as Janelle would serve as his planter monitor. Lambing season would also find these two side by side as they helped bring new life into the world. In fact, that was the theme of their 50 plus years of marriage…together, side by side.  Over the years, they enjoyed taking the occasional vacation but mostly enjoyed being home and spending time with each other and their dogs.

On August 23, 1997, Keith and Janelle welcomed a son into the family, a son-in-law that is. Scott and Jamie were married and to that union 3 daughters were born, Ashilyn, Karissa and Alexis. All three granddaughters instantly won their Papa’s heart and were his pride and joy. When they were young, “Sheep Papa” enjoyed teaching them how to fish, playing with them in the “hideout” in the grove and other fun stuff. As the girls grew older and became involved in more school and church events you could count on seeing both Papa and Grammy in the audience. Marching Band competitions, no matter the weather, became their favorite fall activities to attend. Whatever the girls were doing Papa always took time to let them know how much he loved them and how proud he was of them and all they had accomplished. His family meant more to him than anything else in the world.

In 2020, during the height of the Covid outbreak, Keith decided that it was time for a change. So, after 51 ½ years as an employee of Sudenga Industries he retired.

Keith was an active member of Hope Reformed Church in George where he spent many years teaching Sunday School and Catechism and serving on Consistory as both Deacon and Elder. In 2010 Keith and Janelle transferred their membership to the First Reformed Church in Sibley where they enjoyed worshiping with family and friends. Keith’s faith was evident in all aspects of his life, especially toward the end. He was willing to allow God to lead and was a faithful follower.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of 50 years, Janelle; a daughter Jamie (Scott) Hulstein of Melvin, IA; three granddaughters Ashilyn, Karissa and Alexis Hulstein; and his jack russell terrier dog and wellness buddy, Kenzie; one sister, Connie (Charlie) Putnam of Sheldon; brother-in-law Bernie Groote of George; one Aunt, Nancy Van Drunen of Minneapolis, MN as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant son; his parents, Henry and June; a sister, Maxine Groote; parents-in-law, Jake and Esther Timmer; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim and Lorenza Kruse, Art and Gertrude Timmer, Marvin and Shirley Timmer.

     Memorials may be directed to BEECIN Hospice Foundation.