Calvin James VandenHoek, 94, Garvin, died Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne.
A memorial service will be at a later date.
Calvin VandenHoek was born Dec. 26, 1924, to John and Edith (Kuiper) VandenHoek in Vesper, Wisconsin. Cal was baptized on Feb. 1, 1925, at the Christian Reformed Church in Vesper. The family moved to Winnepeg, Canada, when Cal was two years old. Two years later, they relocated to Everett, Washington. Cal attended Christian school through the eighth grade in Everett. He made his confession of faith in 1939 at the Christian Reformed Church in Everett. Cal graduated from Everett Public School in 1943. He spent a short time in Idaho after graduation before being drafted into the United States Army in December 1944. He served in World War II in the 100th Machine Records Unit as a sergeant in military intelligence. He was stationed in Guam, Saipan and Tinian until his honorable discharge in August of 1946.
On July 18, 1947, Cal married Mildred Valentien at Uncle John Valentien’s farmhouse in Cottonwood County near Comfrey. The couple moved around a bit during their first two years of marriage before his job transferred him to Luverne in 1949. Cal worked in telephone maintenance for various companies such as Northwestern Bell, U.S. West, and Quest. On July 23, 1982, Cal officially retired. In 1994 he and Mildred sold their home in Luverne and moved to a home on Lake Sarah in Garvin. They spent two winters in Texas and 31 in Arizona.
Cal attended Lake Sarah Baptist Church in rural Slayton. During his time in Luverne, he was a member of the Luverne Christian Reformed Church where he served two years as janitor. Cal was a charter board member of the Luverne indoor swimming pool and served two years. He especially enjoyed cars and boats.
Cal is survived by his wife, Mildred of Garvin; children Kathleen (Scott) McClure of Homosassa, Florida, John VandenHoek of Luverne, Mary (John) Rodgers of Fairmont and Mark (Patty) VandenHoek of Magnolia; two daughters-in-law, Shirley VandenHoek and Diane VandenHoek of Luverne; grandchildren Paul VandenHoek, Mary Taylor, Megan Morrison, Kelly Peterson, Matthew McClure, Charise VanMaasdam, Justin VandenHoek, Jessy Hoven, Josh VandenHoek, Maggie Vanderburg, Molly Brummond, Ingrid Bjerknes, Sarah Clements, Emily Trindal, Jerod Ohlsen, Brandy Fjeldheim, and Ruby Ganser; 31 great-grandchildren; and siblings Kenneth (Arlene) VandenHoek of Britt, Iowa, and Elaine Van of Chula Vista, California.
Calvin was preceded in death by his parents, John and Edith VandenHoek; son Robert VandenHoek; daughter Julie Ohlsen; son-in-law Terry Ohlsen; grandson Bryce Ohlsen; great-granddaughter Mily Hoven; brother Julius VandenHoek; and sister Hildred Vonhof-Einfeld.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
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