James Jerry Hoogeveen
May 22, 1937 ~ February 7, 2015
James J. Hoogeveen 77, of Brandon, died Saturday, February 7, 2015, at his home.
Visitation will be Tuesday, February 10, 2015, at Heartland Funeral Home, in the afternoon with family present 5-7pm. A short service will take place at 7pm. Funeral services will be Wednesday, February 11th at Valley Springs Reformed Church at 10am. Interment will follow at at Riverview Cemetery, Rock Rapids, IA, with Full Military Rites.
James Jerry Hoogeveen was born May 22, 1937, in Lester, IA, to Henry & Clara (Bick) Hoogeveen. He grew up in Lyon County and attended and graduated public school in Doon, IA. After graduation he worked at Lems Auto Recycler full-time until he entered the US Army in June, 1960. He took his basic training at Fort Hood, TX and was stationed in Germany with the 34th Division B & Company, until he was discharged in May 1962.
Jim was married to Delores Aeilts until her death in 1996. He was a member of the First Reformed Church, Rock Rapids. Jim worked for the Iowa State Department of Transportation for thirty years. He retired at the age of 60 years. He was a member of The Rock Rapids Fire Department for 32 years and the American Legion Post #103 in Rock Rapids, IA for 30 years.
On July 29, 1997, he was united in marriage to Ivy Vallejo at the “Little Brown Church” in Nashua, IA. Jim and Ivy did lots of traveling and had special memories of traveling to Okinawa, Japan, and traveling with his brother-in-law, Delmer, and his wife, Faye, over most of the United States.
Jim had lots of good memories as a kid fishing & swimming with all his old friends in Doon. He also loved golfing and playing volleyball. In his older years, Jim enjoyed going fishing with all his buddies in Oklahoma, South Dakota and Minnesota. When he wasn’t out fishing, you would see him working on his yard. Even though he had no children of his own, he was important in the lives of a lot of extended family and friends children. He was always there at birthday parties, graduations and baptisms. They could always expect a high five, piece of candy, and hug from “Uncle Jim.”
On September 29, 2014, Jim was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Sadly, James 77, of Brandon, died Saturday, February 7, 2015, at his home, with Ivy at his side.
He is survived by his wife, Ivy, of 17 years; two sisters, Muriel (Vince) Lemonds, Doon, IA, and Gwen (Roger) Ditzel, Beaver Creek, OH; one brother, Jack (Barb) Hoogeveen, Rock Rapids, IA; three step-children, Rick Vallejo, Okinawa, Japan, Leah Erks, Brandon, SD, and Tami Vallejo, Sioux Falls, SD; ten grandchildren and one great-grand child, Jaxon; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; Henry & Clara Hoogeveen, wife Dolores, brother-in-laws Vince LeMonds, Roger Ditzel, Ray Aeilts, Harold Aeilts.
The family requests no flowers. Instead a memorial has been established in Jim’s honor.
Don and Vicki Gritters will miss Jim very much. He and Ivy came to Colorado every year so Jim could golf with Don.
Dear Hoogeveen family, Please accept my deepest sympathy for the loss of your dear loved one. It seems no greater sadness is felt than when someone so dear to us is loss. May you find comfort in your memories and draw strength from a promise God has provided which gives the hope of someday being reunited with your beloved (John 5:28,29). This promised future is one that will be filled with great joy because it will include perfect health and everlasting life on a paradise earth where “the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4, Psalms 37:29). May you during this most difficult time find some comfort in knowing that God does care and He does hear our cries. Please accept my most sincere condolences.