James Gordon Veldkamp, 82, Luverne, died Tuesday, April 11, 2017, at the Sanford Hospice Cottage in Luverne.
A funeral service was Saturday, April 15, at the American Reformed Church in Luverne with burial at Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
James Veldkamp was born Oct. 17, 1934, to Arend and Angie (Achterhoff) Veldkamp on a farm near Valley Springs, South Dakota. He attended grade school in Valley Springs and Hills. The family moved to a farm near Hills, where his father died at a young age. In 1948 the family moved to Chandler where Jim then completed his education.
On June 7, 1955, Jim married Frances Bruxvoort in the Chandler Reformed Church. Jim worked as a farm laborer near Iona. The following year the family moved to the Luverne area where Jim also held a farm laborer position. In 1956 the family moved into Luverne and Jim worked at various car dealers and service stations. In 1965 Jim purchased a service station on South Highway 75. In the early 1970s he earned his GED certificate. Jim’s business grew into a car repair shop, 24-hour towing service and used car dealership. In 1988 part of the business was sold. Jim retained the car sales portion of the business until he retired in 2000.
Jim was an active volunteer in his retirement years and often drove clients to New Life Treatment in Woodstock. As a result of his health and care needs, he became a resident at the Good Samaritan Communities in Luverne in February 2016.
Jim was baptized in the Valley Springs Reformed Church and later made his profession of faith in the Chandler Reformed Church. He was currently a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne, where he had served as a Deacon. He enjoyed restoring old tractors until his health failed.
Jim is survived by his wife, Frances; two sons, Daniel (Linda) Veldkamp and Jody (Lori) Veldkamp, all of Greenwood, Indiana; three grandchildren, Kierstin Veldkamp, Amanda Veldkamp and Keaton Veldkamp; five siblings, Clazina (Henry) Van Wyhe of Brandon, South Dakota, Grace (Lou) Charette of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Marvin (Leona) Veldkamp of Brandon, Alvin (Shirley) Veldkamp of Sioux Falls, and Arlene (Norman) Haak of Oakes, North Dakota; two sister-in-laws, Caroline Veldkamp of Dell Rapids, South Dakota, and Hendrene Van Wyhe of Hills; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Penni Damon; three grandchildren, Mandi, Cody and Katie Vande Kieft; his parents; four siblings, Alice Van Hill, Engbert “Bert” Veldkamp, Marcus “Mike” Veldkamp and Arnold Veldkamp.
Arrangements were with Hartquist Funeral Home, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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