Arnold Veldhuizen

ARNOLD VELDHUIZEN was born to Cornelius Johannes and Sophia (Verhoeff) Veldhuizen on July 4, 1921 in Belgrade, Minnesota where he was raised and attended grade school. In 1927, he moved with his family to a farm near Hull, Iowa. In 1936, they moved to a farm by Woodstock, Minnesota. On May 5, 1943, he was united in marriage to Esther Stueven at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone. In September, 1943, he entered the U.S. Army serving in the South Pacific during World War II. After his discharge from the service in January, 1946, he farmed northwest of Pipestone for many years. In 2002, they moved into Pipestone but Arnie continued to help his daughter, Nancy farm. For the past 14 years he resided in town and made daily trips out to the farm. On December 22, 2016 he entered the Pipestone County Hospice House where he passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 31, 2016, at the age of 95 years, five months, and 27 days.

Arnie was a charter member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Pipestone where he served as an elder and as the chairman of the congregation for three terms each. He was a member of the Michael Boock American Legion Post #6 and the VFW. He enjoyed going to Washington D.C. on the Honor Flight in 2009. Arnie and Esther delivered Meals on Wheels in Pipestone.Arnie and family participated in the Hiawatha Pageant for almost 40 years. Arnie enjoyed RVing with Esther and during many winter months the two travelled the country visiting family. In 1991, Arnie spent the winter building a house in Leakey, Texas with his daughter, Barbara and for many years Arnie and Esther spent their winter in Leakey. One of Arnie’s proudest accomplishments was to help start Progress, Inc. DAC in Pipestone.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Esther Veldhuizen of Pipestone, Minnesota; five children, Dale (Cindy) Veldhuizen of Fort Collins, Colorado, Barbara Veldhuizen of Kerrville, Texas, Nancy Hinricher of Pipestone, Larry Veldhuizen of Pipestone, and Mary Collins of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; five grandchildren, Kimberly (Mark) Zahorik, Creig (Ellery) Veldhuizen, Chad (Laurie) Veldhuizen, Jesse Hinricher, and Jessica Collins; seven great-grandchildren, Victoria, Colton, Parker, Ava, Lauren, Graysen, Max, and Tate; 11 siblings, Gertrude Schneider of Alamosa, Colorado, Annetta Legler of Woodstock, Minnesota, Tony (Kathy) Veldhuizen of Portland, Oregon, Emma Jasper of Woodstock, Minnesota, Robert (Marian) Veldhuizen of Jamestown, California, Sophie (Jerold) Schoolmeester of Edgerton, Minnesota, Cornie Veldhuizen of Paynesville, Minnesota, Mildred (Don) Van Wyk of Denver, Colorado, Julie (Carl) Kreun of Hemmett, California, Roger (Iann) Veldhuizen of Waterloo, Iowa, and Marvin (Rose) Veldhuizen of Sioux Falls. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, John, Albert and Bernard; and one brothers-in-law, Marvin Schneider, Robert Legler, Sr. and Bernard Jasper; and sisters-in-law, Susan Veldhuizen and Helen Veldhuizen.