Samuel J.Veenstra

Samuel John Veenstra was born on June 19, 1939 on a farm north of Corsica to William and Hulda (Kok) Veenstra as the oldest of 4 children. He died on November 7, 2006 at the age of 67 years and 4 months after a 2-year struggle with brain cancer.

He was baptized in the Corsica Christian Reformed Church. When 4 years of age he moved with his family to a farm near Harrison. He made profession of his faith in the Harrison Chr. Reformed Church at an early age where he remained an active member.

He received his education in the New Holland Chr. School through grade 10. He took 2 years of correspondence courses and then attended 1 year at Dordt College.

He was drafted into the United States Army in 1963 and served until 1965 with the Signal Core in Mannheim Germany as a Teletype Operator.

Upon returning home he married Sarah (Dykstra) Veenstra on Aug. 6, 1965 in the Aurora Reformed Church, rural Stickney. Sam took over the operation of the family farm at that time and lived there until 2004 when they moved into New Holland. To this union 3 children were born.

Sam was active in various church and community Boards. He served as elder, deacon, Sunday school and catechism teacher and enjoyed the Men’s Bible Study in the Harrison Chr. Ref. Church. He served on the boards of New Holland Christian School, Dakota Christian High School, Douglas County Farm Bureau, Associated Milk Producers Inc, The Meadow Valley Drainage Board and was a Gideon.

He was a very loving husband, father, grandfather and loyal friend.

Surviving him and happy to have shared his life are:

-his wife, Sarah

-his children: Sharilyn and husband Martin Tel of Princeton, NJ; Steven and wife Camielle of Harrison; Sheila and husband Keith Johnston of Zeeland, MI

-6 grandchildren: Theodore, Sarah, and Kathryn Tel, Erika and Kendall Veenstra and Hannah Johnston

-one brother Leroy Veenstra and wife, Arlene of Lynden WA; two sisters, Phyllis and husband David Netz of Sioux Center IA and Wilma and husband Virgil Van Essen of Edgerton MN

-5 brothers/sisters-in-law: Harold and Carol Dykstra of Omaha, NE; Paul and Mariann Jungnickel of Auburn AL;
Wayne and Dorothy Lund of Brush Prairie, WA; Ken and Harriett Sparks of Kelso, WA; and Gary and Darlene Miller of Warren, OR

-Also nieces and nephews.

Preceeding him in death were his parents- William (1975) and Hulda (1981)

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