Vernon Marvin Vanden Hoek was born December 22, 1946, to Martin and Marie (Maasdam) Vanden Hoek in Grinnell, Iowa.  He passed away October 29, 2017, at Comfort House in Pella.

Vernon grew up in the Kellogg area where he attended a country school.  He was a graduate of Lynnville-Sully High School.  It was here that he wrote letters to his high school sweetheart, Tena Kroes.  They were married on August 5, 1965, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella.  To this union they were blessed with four children: Teresa, Tim, Rhonda, and Angie.

Vernon was a lifelong member of the First Reformed Church in Sully.  Vernon never knew a stranger and was always witnessing to anyone and everyone. He loved working on the farm with animals: he milked Holsteins for 35 years, he adopted four Mustang horses to break and he raised border collies.  Vernon also had many other interests and talents.  He loved driving school bus and would even dress as Santa Claus for the children and his family.  He also drove for Progress Industries in Newton and he drove detasseling bus in the summer.  Vernon enjoyed working in a prison ministry program for many years. He built many buildings on his farm, and did some woodworking for his family.  After he could no longer work on the farm he enjoyed cooking and baking for his family or anyone in need!

Those left to cherish his  memory are his wife, Tena, of Sully and their family:

Teresa and Bart Benson of Gilman

Amanda and Marcus Hoksbergen

Quinn, Gus

Tim and Marsha Vanden Hoek of Sully

Kelsi and Jacob Bowman

Berkley

Brett Vanden Hoek

Rhonda and Steve Showman of Pella

Kate and Brad Shelangoski

Aiden, Connor

Colten Showman and Tara Keasling

Maggie Showman

Nick Showman

Angie and Rod Claassen of Garwin

Bridger Claassen and Mackenzie Burt

Josie Claassen

He is also survived by his siblings: June VerWoert, Marlene and Harvey Beyer, Eleanor and Gene Jansen, Gerald and Lynda Vanden Hoek, and Ramona and Art Cooper; and his nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother William, his parents, and his sister Leona Brandhof.