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James Vink

Lead Summary

James A. Vink, age 83, of Luverne, Minnesota, died on Monday, March 21, 2022, at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage.
Visitation will be Sunday, March 27, 2022, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the American Reformed Church in Luverne. A funeral service will be Monday, March 28, 2022, at 1:00 p.m. at the church. Interment will follow at the Memory Gardens in Luverne. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hartquist Funeral Home – Luverne Chapel. To read Jim’s life history and sign an online registry please visit www.hartquistfuneral.com.
James Albert Vink was born November 12, 1938, to Delmar and Lucretia (DeBoer) Vink in Castlewood, South Dakota. He attended grade school at Rock County District 1 and graduated from Luverne High School in 1957.
In January of 1958, Jim enlisted in the United States Army and served our country until his honorable discharge in January of 1960. He began driving truck for Luverne Creamery, then later hauled wholesale groceries for M. and J.R. Hakes, which was later named Schrivner, Inc.
On Sept. 8, 1961, Jim was united in marriage to Janice Miersma at Valley Springs Reformed Church. The couple settled in Luverne and raised their four children, Joel, Timothy, Audra and Paul. Jim hauled for Schrivner for 38 years until the company’s closing. He then drove the Rock County Heartland Bus for two years.
After his retirement, Jim volunteered with the Foster Grandparent Program at the Luverne Elementary School for ten years and was recognized as the 2008 Friend of Education. He also volunteered with the Big Buddies of Rock County and was named 2005 Big Buddy of the Year.
On Monday, March 21, 2022, Jim died peacefully at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage at the age of 83 years, four months, and nine days.
Jim made public profession of his Christian faith in 1960 and was a charter member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne, where he served as deacon, elder, Sunday School teacher, and Men’s Bible Study leader. In April of 1996 he began a weekly Bible Study group at Southwestern Youth Services in Magnolia, Minnesota, and participated with the group over the next 17 years. Jim enjoyed fishing, reading, and listening to classic country music.
He will be remembered by his wife of 60 years, Janice; his four children, Joel and his wife, Teresa Vink of Poway, California, Timothy and his wife, Dana Vink of Zeeland, Michigan, Audra and her husband, Joel Diederichs of Muscatine, Iowa, and Paul and his wife, Laura Vink of Indianapolis, Indiana; nine grandchildren, Nicole Vink, Chad Vink, Karis (Jon) De Jong, Alaina (Dave) Ekdom, Caley Vink, Devon Diederichs, Trevor Diederichs, Madison Vink, and Dalton Vink; four great-grandchildren; one sister, Joanne (Jack) Campbell of Moline, Michigan; one brother, Arnold (Gloria) Vink of Luverne, Minnesota; and a sister-in-law, Dianne Vink of Iola, Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Delmar and Lucretia, and two brothers, Gary Vink in 2006 and Dale in 2016.
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