Marcus “Mike” Uithoven, 91, Luverne, died Monday, Nov. 29, 2021, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne.
A funeral service was at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, at the American Reformed Church in Luverne. Burial with military honors was Saturday, Dec. 4, at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Luverne.
Marcus “Mike” Jr. Uithoven was born on June 7, 1930, to Jacob and Jennie (Ruiter) Uithoven. He spent his childhood on the family farm near Valley Springs, South Dakota. He attended country school. Mike’s family only spoke Dutch at home so it was a transition heading to school and learning English. Mike graduated with the Valley Springs class of 1948. Following school, he helped his family on their dairy and crop farm.
Mike married Viola Van Roekel on Dec. 18, 1951, at Valley Springs Reformed Church. He left for Army basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, in January of 1952. He was then sent to Korea, arriving in Inchon, Korea, by boat and marching to the front lines. After some time, he was stationed at T bone Hill to guard prisoners of war from the North. He was then sent to White Horse Mountain to complete his service. He was honorably discharged on July 27, 1953.
Mike and Viola made their home in Valley Springs for the next eight years were Mike farmed and worked at John Morrell in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. They then moved to a farm near Beaver Creek, where they farmed for six years. As times were hard with farming, Mike went to work driving truck for a couple of years for M & JR Hakes. In 1968 Mike took a job with Iowa Beef Producers in Luverne. The couple purchased a home on the edge of town where they lived for over 50 years. At IBP Mike worked as a painter for a number of years and then out in the cattle yards. He retired from IBP in 1996.
During their retirement years, the couple enjoyed spending winters in Mesa, Arizona.
In August 2017, Mike entered the Minnesota Veterans Home in Luverne. Viola preceded him in death on Oct. 13, 2020.
Mike was a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne. The couple taught Sunday School and were church youth counselors in their younger years. Mike was an avid softball player and was a member of several teams. He also enjoyed golfing, horseshoes, spending time at their lake place in Lake Benton, and traveling. Mike loved his family.
Mike is survived by five children, Gary (Marcia) Uithoven of Las Cruces, New Mexico, Greg (Marilyn) Uithoven of Magnolia, Leanne (Jim) Zarling of Fairmont, Glen Uithoven of Worthington, and Lisa Uithoven of Omaha, Nebraska; 10 grandchildren, Heather (Jeff) Andre, Shannon Uithoven, Megan (Chad Sieddel) Uithoven, Marcus Uithoven (fiancée Ashlee Placencio), Adam (Linda) Uithoven, Annie (Nick) Bork, Aric (Cassie) Uithoven, Kathryn (Billy) Moses, Tom Siebert and Zeven Sanders; 21 great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Viola; his parents; two grandchildren, Amanda Uithoven and Shawn Uithoven; and his brother, Dick Uithoven.
Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home of Luverne, hartquistfuneral.com.
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