Harry J. Hoogeveen

Oct. 17, 1923 -  April 10, 2016      , age 92, of Willmar, formerly of Raymond, died Sunday morning, April 10, at Bethesda Pleasant View Nursing Home in Willmar. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, April 14, at the Christian Reformed Church in Raymond.  Interment will be at Holland Township Cemetery in Prinsburg.  Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 13, at  the Christian Reformed Church in Raymond and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.  Military Honors will be provided by Austin F. Hanscom American Legion Post #167 of Willmar.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Central Minnesota Christian School, Dordt College or Bethesda Nursing Home are preferred.  Harry James Hoogeveen was born on October 17, 1923, in Edwards Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, the son of Henry and Gertrude (Roelofs) Hoogeveen.  He grew up in the Prinsburg community, graduated 8th grade from the Central Minnesota Christian School and graduated from Clara City High School in 1942.  In 1943, Harry made his Profession of Faith at the First Christian Reformed Church in Prinsburg.  On March 24, 1943, Harry was drafted into the U.S. Army and served with the 15th Army Air Corps stationed in Italy as a crew member and Ball Turret Gunner on a B-24.  He was shot down over Yugoslavia on November 20, 1944 and was listed as missing in action until January 6, 1945.  Harry was honorably discharged on October 18, 1945.  On  June 2, 1948, Harry was united in marriage to Lydia Ruth Aeikens at the Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City and they were blessed with six children, James, Karen, Daryl, Gwynn, Joyce and Jayne.  He graduated from the Minneapolis Business College in 1950 with a degree in Business Administration.  For over 35 years, Harry enjoyed farming and spent over 37 winters doing tax preparation.  He served many years as the Lone Tree Township clerk and treasurer, a Farmers Union member, a CMCS School Board member, a Deacon and Elder at the Raymond Christian Reformed Church, and as a delegate to the Synod for the Christian Reformed Church with his son, James.  In 2013, he and Lydia moved into Willmar.  Harry’s hobbies included being a CRWRC Natural Disaster Relief volunteer, New To You Thrift Store volunteer, attending his grandchildren’s activities, farming, gardening and playing baseball in his younger years. He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Lydia of Willmar; five children, Karen (and Dan) Andrs of Eden Prairie, Daryl (and Bonnie) Hoogeveen of Willmar, Gwynn (and Ralph) Ketel of Pine River, Manitoba, Canada, Joy (and Ben) Wolters of Virden, Manitoba, Canada, and Jayne (and Tony) Kinneberg of Parkston, South Dakota; one daughter-in-law, Lois Hoogeveen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 42 grandchildren including their spouses and 34 great-grandchildren.  Also surviving is one brother, Stan (and Clara) Hoogeveen of Sully, Iowa and two sisters, Eva (and Les) Brouwer of Willmar and Lorraine Hoogeveen of Willmar, besides other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, Pastor Jim Hoogeveen; and three sisters and brothers-in-law, Angie and Rob Gort, Esther and Tony Zondervan and Helen and Delmer Mulder.      

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