Evelyn Van Heukelom

Evelyn Gladys Van Heukelom, daughter of Dirk G. and Hattie (Jansen) De Jong, was born near Pella, Iowa, and died of COVID-19 complications at the age of 101.  She went to be with the Lord on November 22, 2020.

Evelyn was united in marriage with T. Ernest Van Heukelom on January 29, 1941.  To this union three children were born:  Karen, Ronald, and Mary.  After farming for a brief time near Pella, Iowa, Ernest and Evelyn moved their family to Ridgeview Farm when Ernest’s father retired from farming.  The couple farmed together for 68 years, until the death of Ernest.

Evelyn was a faithful member of Ebenezer Reformed Church in Leighton.  During her lifetime, she was a member of the women’s mission group; a Sunday School teacher; a Vacation Bible School teacher; and a Catechism teacher.  She also served as a youth group sponsor along with Ernest.

In the Gideon Auxiliary, she participated in Bible distributions, prayer meetings, and the jail ministry. Evelyn and Ernest served as zone leaders, traveling to various Gideon camps throughout Iowa.  They enjoyed meeting Gideons at International Conventions.  Over the years they handed out hundreds of personal Bible Testaments.

As part of the prison ministry for many years Evelyn corrected Bible Study lessons for prisoners and wrote several letters of encouragement per week to prisoners who were growing as Christians.  She was a great inspiration to and prayer warrior for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Her friends often called upon her to be a prayer partner for their concerns.

Always willing to volunteer, Evelyn served in the Central College Auxiliary.  She also volunteered for Lion’s Club activities and was honored to receive a special award for her years of service.

Evelyn maintained a huge vegetable garden, a fruit orchard, and multiple flower beds/gardens.  At age 95 she was still operating her riding mower in order to maintain her spacious yard.  Her recreational interests included: fishing with Ernest; traveling with him worldwide with farm groups; making children’s quilts for Project Linus; and baking delicious cookies and cakes to share.

Those left to cherish her memory are her three children and their spouses, along with their seven grandchildren, their spouses and eleven great-grandchildren. The families include:  Fred and Karen Wohlstein of Lexington, Kentucky, Fred and Marie Wohlstein (Zachary, Parker, Lexie), Diana Hale, and John and Enid Gorman (Jack and Maggie); Rev. Ronald and Carol Van Heukelom of Ankeny, Iowa, Mike and Tomoko Van Heukelom (Lena), Tom and Kimber Van Heukelom; and John and Mary Hiemstra of Cypress, Texas, Nick and April Hiemstra (Brandon and Nicole), and Joe and Dr. Audra Hiemstra (Matthew, Lauren, Kaitlyn).

Preceding her in death were her husband Ernest; her parents; her two brothers Henry and James De Jong; and her twin sister Gladys Bloem.  Evelyn will be missed by her family and all who knew and loved her.

No visitation or funeral service will be conducted at this time.  A Celebration of Life will occur at a later date. 

The family will have a private graveside service that will be Livestreamed on the Garden Chapel Facebook page at 1:00 pm, Tuesday, November 24.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.