Harold Van Weelden Obituary

Harold Van Weelden, 93, of Oskaloosa, passed away Friday, July 4, 2025, at the Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa.
Harold Abraham Van Weelden, the 12th of 14 children born to William and Jennie (Bouma) Van Weelden, was born March 7, 1932, at the rural home of his parents. As a youngster, he attended Elm Grove and Star School, country schools near his home. He finished his formal education at Oskaloosa High School, graduating in 1950. Harold's family attended the Protestant Reformed Church, and he made his Profession of Faith in 1959. While in high school, he worked as a grocery carry-out boy at Thriftway. He was inducted into the Army on May 16, 1952, and served with the 2nd Armored Division in the Quartermaster Corps; during his two years of service, he spent 17 months in Germany. He was discharged on April 27, 1954. He returned to Iowa and soon started managing the Thriftway Grocery Store in Newton. While working in Newton, he met a young lady, Eileen Meinders, the roommate of his cousin, Joyce. On their first date, Harold picked her up with his Indian motorcycle; he later escorted her in his convertible to many fun events. They were married on September 2, 1960, at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. They lived in Oskaloosa for 12 years and, in 1973, purchased a small farm south of town. Harold raised crops, hogs, and cattle, and it was also a great place to raise his three boys. They moved back to Oskaloosa in 2008.
In 1958, he took a job as a bookkeeper with the Lost Creek Coal Company and occasionally was required to drive a pit truck. He continued in this job until taking a mail carrier job with the U.S.P.S. in 1966; it was during this time that he also became interested in life insurance sales. For two years, Harold worked in both fields before transitioning to insurance full-time in 1966. He retired in 2012. Harold and Eileen were able to spend 23 years wintering in Arizona.
In 1970, Harold and Eileen purchased their first camper. That purchase, along with its subsequent replacements, provided the family with 38 years of enormous fun as they traveled the US, saw the sights, or took brief junkets to Lake Keomah. In his free time, Harold enjoyed gardening, playing cards, and board games with his family and friends. He loved watching car races and basketball games on TV, and never lost the love of riding his motorcycle. He was a member of the Dutch Masters Antique Car Club, the Bethel Christian Reformed Church, where he served as deacon, and the Kiwanis Club. He especially enjoyed meeting his friends for coffee at McDonald's.
Harold's family includes his wife of almost 65 years, Eileen; his sons: Timothy (Sali) of Cedar Rapids, Phillip (Kathy) of Waukee, and Patrick of Waukee; grandchildren: Tythe (Shelby) Van Weelden, Thomas Van Weelden, and Lauren Van Weelden; and a great-grandson, Lander Van Weelden. He is survived by a sister, Frances (Lester) Spoelstra of Redlands, California; a sister-in-law, Janet (Tom) Kelderman; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Harold was preceded in death by his eight brothers: John (Cornelia) Van Weelden, S. Henry (Grace) Van Weelden, James (Adriana) Van Weelden, William (Joanna) Van Weelden, Ray (Agnes) Van Weelden, Peter (Jeanette) Van Weelden, Ernest (Mary Ann) Van Weelden, and an infant brother; four sisters: Sylvia (Garrit) Kelderman, Dorothy (Kryn) DeRonde, Anna (Richard) Kelderman and Jean (Cornie) Boender; sisters-in-law, Ruth VerMeer Van Weelden, Wilma Nunnikhoven Van Weelden, and Wilma Nieuwsma Van Weelden, and a brother-in-law, Raymond (Janice) Meinders.
Funeral Services for Harold will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at Bethel Christian Reformed Church, with Rev. Doug Van Der Pol officiating. The Family Prayer Service will precede the funeral at 10:15 a.m. in the fellowship hall. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday at Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will greet visitors from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Oskaloosa Christian School or the Mahaska Health Foundation for the Hospice Serenity House. A live webcast will be viewable on the Bethel Christian Reformed Church Facebook page. See the link on Harold's Tribute Wall page.