PINE ISLAND — Robert Venhuizen, 89, a longtime farmer of Pine Island, died Monday (April 14, 2008) at the Pine Haven Care Center.
Mr. Venhuizen was born Oct. 13, 1912, in New Underwood, S.D. He grew up on a farm, and at age 7 moved with his family to Holland. He attended school in Holland and returned to the New Underwood area, where he raised cattle and sheep and farmed. He moved to Rochester and on April 4, 1949, married Barbara Blake in Mantorville. Mr. Venhuizen worked for St. Mary’s Farm in Rochester and later moved to the Blake family farm in New Haven Township, Olmsted County, where he farmed. He entered the nursing home in December 2005. He enjoyed farming.
He is survived by his wife; a daughter, Ruth (Lee) Arnett of Rochester; a son, William "Bill" (Violet) of Byron; four grandchildren; two sisters, Henrietta Nelson of Arizona and Grace Coloff of Wyoming; and a brother, Warmoult (Violet) of California. He was preceded in death by four brothers and a sister.
A public visitation for Mr. Venhuizen will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Mahn Family Funeral Home-Mahler Chapel in Pine Island. Private graveside services will be in Othello Cemetery in rural Douglas.
