Frank Gerrit Reurink, 92, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, died Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, at the VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls.
A funeral service was Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the American Reformed Church in Luverne. Burial followed at the Maplewood Cemetery in Luverne.
Frank Reurink was born on June 29, 1927, to Gerrit and Jennie (Hein) Reurink in Colton, South Dakota. He was baptized in the Reformed Church in Colton. Frank was drafted into the United States Army in 1945 during World War II. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
On Sept. 2, 1949, Frank married Delores Swier in Colton. They farmed in the Colton area until Frank began working at John Morrell. In 1988 Frank received a heart transplant at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, becoming only the 161st person to receive a heart transplant there.
Frank and Delores spent winters in Arizona in their later years. Frank and Delores moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, permanently in 2017.
Frank was a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne. During his time in Sioux Falls, he was a charter member and acted as an elder in the Good News Reformed Church in Sioux Falls. Frank also served as a Sunday school teacher and was a lay pastor and preached at various churches around the Arlington, South Dakota, area. He was a member of the Arlington American Legion Post #42.
Frank enjoyed outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, gardening, camping, golfing, mowing his lawn and playing horseshoes. He also had a great love of the Minnesota Twins.
Frank is survived by his wife, Delores, of Sioux Falls; four children, David (Barb) Reurink of Mesa, Arizona, Beverly (Mike) Berg of Sioux Falls, Lori Otten of Luverne, and Todd (Ann) Reurink of Sioux Falls; seven grandchildren, Clint (Dana) Berg, Jessica (Carey) Tri, Jenni (Lee) Yanke, Nick (Jessica) Otten, Ashley Otten (fiancé Richard Gonzalez), Sara Reurink, Anthony Reurink; nine great-grandchildren, Abby and Matthew Yanke, Ainsley, Audrey, and Arianna Berg, Ryder, Camdyn, and Brady Tri, and Easton Otten; three siblings, Dorothy (Heinie) VanderWeerd of Brandon, South Dakota, Jeanette Farr of Sioux Falls, Carrie (Don) Hanneman of Dell Rapids, South Dakota; and many other friends and relatives.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; and three sisters.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.
(0905 F)