HENRY J. VAN ESSEN
February 5, 1934 – July 18, 2022
Henry J. Van Essen was born on February 5, 1934, in Edgerton, Minn., and died in Zeeland, Mich., on July 18, 2022.
Henry married his high school sweetheart, Dot De Poorter, on May 18, 1954. Their union was blessed with 4 children: Calvin (Karen) Van Essen of Castle Rock, Colo., Diane (Stan) DeYager of Lake Forest Park, Wash., Sharon (Kevin) Schonewill of Holland, Mich., and Delwyn (Diane) Van Essen of Littleton, Colo. He had 15 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren. They lived in Edgerton, Minn., until 1984 and then moved to Sioux Falls, S.D.
He served as an elder in the Christian Reformed Church and board member of Edgerton Christian Elementary School. He also volunteered at hospitals, the Sioux Falls Furniture Mission, the Gideons, and Prison Ministry. Henry enjoyed playing golf and all kinds of card games with Dot, his family and friends. He was in sales most of his married life and retired in 2009 as a real estate broker in Sioux Falls.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held Saturday, August 20, at 10 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall of First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Falls.
