VAN REGENMORTER, HENRY AND CYNTHIA (VAN ROEKEL)

Henry Van Regenmorter was born on August 25, 1919 at Sioux Center to Peter and Carrie (Bos) Van Regenmorter. Cynthia Van Roekel was born at rural Sioux Center to Henry C. and Allie (Vander Ploeg) Van Roekel. They were married September 26, 1945 in the farm home by the Rev. L.A. Brunsting, Pastor of the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center.

Both Henry and Cynthia completed eight years of schooling in rural schools near Sioux Center. Farming was their life, and after their marriage they lived near Struble, IA in a huge 3-story farm home and farmed the land. After that they moved to a farm near Maurice, IA and lived there until 1971 when they moved to the town of Sioux Center. Since then Henry and Cynthia have both worked at a poultry farm, have been janitors in a local business, and at present they operate a taxi service for the city of Sioux Center.

The night of February 4, 1984 is one that Henry and Cynthia will not soon forget. They ware driving home from northern Minnesota when a severe snow storm hit, visibility was zero, and a wall of snow, as it ware, was around them. They were picked up by another passerby, but couldn't keep moving, and so spent the light stuck in a snow bank, with temperatures at 12 degrees below zero, and a 60-mile-an-hour wind. Being low on gas, they ran the car for 15 minutes and then waited for 45 minutes before starting it again. At 5:30 A.M. a farmer came out with a truck and brought the group to the farm house to warm up and be given a warm breakfast, ending a cold night of 11 1/2 hours spent in the storm.

Four children were born to this marriage, as follows:

1. Roger Dean married Wenova Kay Huisman and live on a farm near Maurice, IA. They have two sons, Bradley Dean and Timothy Lee.

2. Cheryl Ann was married to Perry Dykstra, but passed away on January 20,1974 of Hodgkins disease at the age of 25 years. They had two children, Shawn Renee and Jason Allen.

3. Darrel Henry married Margery Ann Huisman, and live on a farm near Maurice, IA. They have four children, Melissa Ann, Daryl Lee, Daniel Jan, and David Dean.

4. Karen Joy is married to Robert Wayne Huenink and live on a farm near Alcester, SD. They have two children, Katie Joy and Ryan Robert.

by Ellen Van Roekel