Harris Arthur Van Waardhuizen

March 17, 1928 - October 29, 2014

Harris Arthur Van Waardhuizen was born March 17, 1928 in Otley Iowa, the son of Gerrit K. and Dirkie (Van Zante) Van Waardhuizen. He was raised on his family’s farm near Otley, Iowa. As a young man, Harris worked in a coal mine, on his family’s farm and briefly at Maytag. On July 12, 1950 Harris was united in marriage to Norma June Van Genderen at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. To this union, four children were born. The couple made their home on a farm near Prairie City for ten years. In 1960 they moved to the Pleasantville area. Harris loved working the land and spent most of his life farming, raising livestock, and doing custom work; he also repaired machinery for Hawkeye Farm Equipment in Knoxville. Harris and Norma also served as campground hosts at Roberts Creek Park for 14 years. They made many wonderful friends and couldn't wait to return each spring to see them. Harris enjoyed deer, coyote, fox and coon hunting, mushroom hunting, and especially fishing year-round. Harris passed away on Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at the Knoxville Area Community Hospital at the age of 86 years. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, John. Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Norma of Pleasantville; children: Garry (Linda) Van Waardhuizen of Knoxville; Robert (Deb) Van Waardhuizen of Pleasantville; Karla (Dan) Fox of Crystal Lake, Illinois; Randy Van Waardhuizen of Pleasantville; grandchildren: James (Aubrey) Van Waardhuizen, Mike (Vicki) VanWaardhuizen; Brenda Van Waardhuizen, Melissa (Rodney) Nevels, Bobbi (David) Ammons; Stephen (Melissa) Fox, Kristina Fox; Shawna Van Waardhuizen, Shane Nicholson; great-grandchildren: Hailey & Ian Van Waardhuizen, Jesse & John Paul Chapin; Dakota & Chelsea Cingle, Ashley & Josie Houser, Dillen, Carson, & Elizabeth Ammons, and Eliana Fox; brothers Alvin Van Waardhuizen of Beaman and Bill Van Waardhuizen of Pella; sister-in-law, Pearl Van Waardhuizen of Pella as well as many other family members and friends. Harris will be cremated and a visitation will be held at the Mason Funeral Home, in Pleasantville, beginning after 10:00 a.m. Sunday, November 2. The family will receive friends from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the family.