Herman Van Hulzen

HERMAN VAN HULZEN was born to Herman, Sr. and Johanna (Mesman) Van Hulzen on August 24, 1921 on the family farm in Nobles county. He was raised there and attended country school in District #107. Upon completion of his education he continued to help his family on the farm. On February 10, 1944, Herman was united in marriage to Caroline Broekhuis at her parents’ home in Edgerton, Minnesota. Following their marriage the couple moved to a farm near Woodstock, Minnesota. To their union, two children were born, Marianne and Vernon. Vernon died at one week of age. On May 10, 1947, Caroline died. Herman continued to live on the farm with their daughter, Marianne. Two years later, on August 23, 1949, Herman was united in marriage to Helen Tinklenberg at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton. They continued to reside at Herman’s farm for a couple of years before moving to a farm near Edgerton. During the next thirty years, Herman and Helen moved and farmed land in various places in Rock County, before selling the farming equipment. Herman then went to work at a hog operation for Dr. James R. Juhl north of Luverne, Minnesota. The couple lived and worked there for the next sixteen years. In October of 1984, Herman and Helen moved into a house in Luverne. Herman began working for various farmers for the next three years, painted for one year, and then worked for the city of Luverne for thirteen years before retiring in August of 2004. In May of 2007, Herman became a resident at the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne, where on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 he died at the age of 89 years, 7 months, and 11 days.

Herman was a member of the Christian Reformed Church in Luverne, where he taught Sunday school for a number of years. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, making bird houses during the winter months and following sports, especially the Minnesota Twins. He loved gardening and spending time with all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife of 61 years, Helen; five children, Marianne and her husband Al Haveman of Wayland, Michigan, Jan and her husband Rog Reitsma of Chandler, Minnesota, Jim and his wife Linda of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Barb and her husband Verlyn Ruiter of Leota, Minnesota, and Faith and her husband Bob Prins of Chandler, Minnesota; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a sister, Johanna and her husband Gordon Tinklenberg of Apple Valley, California; and other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Caroline; infant son, Vernon; his parents; a sister, Henrietta Bos; and four brothers, Gerrit, John, Bert, and Joe Van Hulzen.

Memorials are preferred to the Good Samaritan Society – Mary Jane Brown Home in Luverne or the Luverne Christian Reformed Church.