Henry Marvin “Jack” Van Dam

CHANDLER­–Henry Marvin “Jack” Van Dam was born on December 20, 1938, in Slayton, Minnesota, to Henry Jr. and Eva (Van Ruler) Van Dam. The local schoolteacher boarded with the family, and she looked after Jack after school. As he was quite the rambunctious young man, she joked that he was like a little jackrabbit, and that is how he earned the nickname “Jack,” which is how most people knew him.

He attended country school in Murray County through the 8th grade, and he later earned his GED. He worked with his dad on the family farm until he was drafted into the US Army in 1961. He served in Fort Hood, Texas, until he was honorably discharged in 1963. While serving in the army he met his bride to be when she sent him a pen pal letter, and they began corresponding on a regular basis.

After he returned from serving in the army, Jack married Marie Van Bemmel on January 28, 1964, in the Christian Reformed Church in Doon, IA. They enjoyed a three-week honeymoon, traveling to the West coast to visit family and friends and enjoyed many sights along the way. They lived on a farm northwest of Chandler until 1974 when they moved to Jack’s family home southwest of Lake Wilson. They were blessed with 4 children and 6 grandchildren, and Jack loved hearing about the grandkids’ events and activities.

Jack was a faithful member of Chandler Reformed Church, and he taught Sunday School for several years. He enjoyed visiting with friends and family, and he would strike up a conversation with everyone he met. He and Marie worked together on the farm and Gary joined them, eventually taking over the family operation. Jack delivered water to people throughout the area for many years, and he came to know many of those customers as friends. He loved to read and enjoyed learning about all different areas, especially if it was related to farming. He was a proud member of the Chandler American Legion for 47 years, and he served as the treasurer for several years. Due to health issues, he moved to the Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton in 2019. He enjoyed all the activities including Bible study, playing bingo, and of course, visiting with other residents, the staff and any visitors.

Jack is lovingly remembered by his four children: Kevin (Kim) Van Dam of Sioux Falls, SD; Gary Van Dam of Lake Wilson; Dennis (Karen) Van Dam of Blue Ash, OH; and Debra Belaen (significant other Dar Schuld) of Minneota, MN; six grandchildren, Cassandra, Lillian, Eve, and Kevin Matthew Van Dam, Trevor and Thomas Belaen; four siblings, Marvin Van Dam of Chandler, Albert (Sandy) Van Dam of Slayton, Kathy (Verlin) Rylaarsdam of Chandler, and Della (Aldon) Klassen of Sioux Falls; four sisters-in-law: Marcella (John) Groen of Chandler, Connie Hacker of Fargo, ND, Gertrude Van Den Top of Hull, IA, and Wilma Van Bemmel of Doon, IA; and brother-in-law Marion (Carol) Van Bemmel of Luverne, MN.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Marie; son-in-law, Donald Belaen; brothers Harold Van Dam and Jim Van Dam; sister-in-law Donna Van Dam; brothers-in-law Henry Paul (Mary Ann) Van Bemmel, John Van Den Top, Leonard (Ruth) Van Bemmel, and Alvin Van Bemmel.

Memorial Services were held on Saturday, April 12 at the Chandler Reformed Church. Burial was at Chandler Memorial Cemetery, Chandler, MN.

Chandler Funeral Association assisted the family.