Norman Lee VanMaanen, son of Teunis and Rika Fortuin Van Maanen, was born on Sept. 8, 1941, on the family farm south of Lynnville. He passed away Friday, March 29, 2013, at Skiff Medical Center in Newton, Iowa, at the age of 71.
He received his early education at the Case Country School near his home where he completed eighth grade. Norman then started helping on the farm and that was the beginning of his farming career.
Norman met Marilyn Van Norden at the Sully Café, where she was a waitress, and on Sept. 10, 1964, she became his wife. They were united in marriage at the Sully Christian Reformed Church. Norman and Marilyn were blessed with one daughter, Sharla.
Norman was a member of the First Reformed Church all his life. He served several terms on the consistory in the capacity of elder and deacon. He enjoyed farming, restoring tractors, raising cattle, and loved spending time with his family and grandkids. He was well known as never knowing a stranger, liked visiting with people, was a family man and enjoyed life to the fullest.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Marilyn, of Newton; his daughter, Sharla and her husband Rustin Van Wyk of Sully; two grandchildren, Ross Lee Van Wyk and Shaleah Dawn Van Wyk; and his siblings: Walton (Violet) Van Maanen of Lynnville, LeRoy (Ruth) VanMaanen of Lynnville, Gilbert (Ada) Van Maanen of Lynnville, Arlene (Arnout) Dunnick of Barnes City, Dennis (Linda) Van Maanen of Kellogg, Shirley (Melvin) Uitermarkt of Leighton, Karen (Frank) Van Soelen of Sully, Rodney (Beverly) Van Maanen of Lynnville, Dale (Ruth) Van Maanen of Lynnville; his sister-in-law,Dorothy Van Maanen of Grinnell; brothers-in-law, Gary (Laura) Van Norden, Kenneth (Linda) Van Norden, Bill (Betty) Van Norden all of Colorado; and many nieces and nephews.
Norman was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Bill and Kate Van Norden; and brothers, Marvin Van Maanen and Irvin Gene Van Maanen, who died in infancy.
A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 3, at Sully First Reformed Church. Visitation will be at noon Tuesday at the church with family present from 5 to 7 p.m.