Kenneth Vanden Hoek

Kenneth J. Vanden Hoek, 93, of Britt, passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at Westview Care Center in Britt.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 15th, at Britt Christian Reformed Church, with Pastor Kevin Boss officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Britt.

To view his service click the following link:  Watch Video

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.

Kenneth John Vanden Hoek, the son of Pastor John and Edith (Kuiper) Vanden Hoek, was born May 9, 1931, in Everett, Washington. Because his father was a pastor, his family moved frequently throughout the U.S. Kenneth attended elementary school in Everett, Washington, and Junior High School in Grangeville, Idaho. In l949, he graduated with honors from Comfrey High School, Comfrey, Minnesota, and then attended Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. On May 28, l954, Kenneth married Arlene Redenius at the Woden Christian Reformed Church by his brother Julius. They moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he graduated from the University of Minnesota with his registry in x-ray technology. The couple moved to Des Moines, where he was employed as an X-ray Technologist at the Beaverdale Clinic. While in Des Moines, he was a member of the Des Moines Christian Reformed Church. Later, Kenneth and his family moved to Fort Dodge, where he was employed as a Medical Laboratory and X-ray Technologist at the Lutheran Regional Hospital. In l958, they moved to Britt, Iowa where he was employed for 23 years at Hancock County Memorial Hospital as Chief of Laboratory and X-ray. In l983, he was self-employed for 18 years as an independent memorial sales representative for the Winona Monument Company in Minnesota. A talented salesman, he won top salesman of the year four times, selling over 2,000 cemetery monuments in northern Iowa. Kenneth enjoyed numerous activities, including reading, yard work, hunting, fishing, boating, water skiing, and woodworking. Just some of his wooden creations included a 12-nest bird house, a rooftop cupola, and a mahogany hydroplane boat. In addition, he enjoyed cruising in his red Corvette.

Like his wife Arlene, Kenneth was a devoted Christian. He was a member of the Britt Christian Reformed Church, where he served on the council, as a Sunday School Superintendent and teacher. He also served on the board of directors at Opportunity Village, now known as One Vision in Clear Lake, Iowa. Finally, Kenneth founded the Christian Businessmen’s Committee for the purpose of distributing Christian literature.

Kenneth is survived by his children Linda (Pastor Cliff) Hoekstra, Sioux Center, Iowa; and John Vanden Hoek of Spencer, Iowa, and his fiancée Kelly Plueger of Le Mars, Iowa; grandchildren Keith (Katie) Hoekstra of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Kayla (Scott) Stuerman of Rock Rapids, Iowa; Derek (Emily) Vanden Hoek of Larchwood, Iowa; Jody Vanden Hoek and fiancé Avery Baker of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; sister Elaine Van of Chula Vista, California; nine great- grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene of 70 years; brothers, Pastor Julius Vanden Hoek and Calvin Vanden Hoek; sister, Hildred Einfeld; and grandson, Chad Hoekstra.