Nick J. Van Dam, 85, of Dell Rapids passed away on Monday, February 17, 2014 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. His Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 21, 2014 at St. Mary Catholic Church, Dell Rapids. Interment will be in the St. Mary Cemetery. Military Rites will be provided by the Dell Rapids American Legion Firing Squad. Visitation will begin at noon on Thursday, February 20, 2014 at Kahler Funeral Home with a Christian Wake service beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Nick J. Van Dam was born on November 20, 1928 at Dell Rapids, SD. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, seeing service in Japan and Korea with the Combat Engineers. He married JoAnn Beaner at St. Joseph Church, Wellington on May 28, 1957. He went to work for John Morrell and Co. and retired in 1991. He then drove school bus for the Dell Rapids School District for 18 years.
He was a Life Member of the Dell Rapids American Legion Post, of which he was a past Commander. He was also a member of the Post’s Color Guard and Firing Squad. He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Dell Rapids. He was a Life Member of the National Rifle Association and a member of the Dell Rapids Sportsmen’s Club.
Nick is preceded in death by his parents, Nick and Catherine; his brother, Gerald and his sister, Helena Kriens.
He is survived by his wife, JoAnn; his two sons, Floyde (Judy) of Montrose, SD, and Gerald (Jodene) of New Richmond, WI; his two daughters, Bonnie (Michael) Levin of Denver, CO, and Lois (Tom) Martin of Little Canada, MN; his eight granddaughters, one grandson, and seven great grandchildren; his sister, Ethel Ossefoort of Luverne, MN, and his brother, Joseph of Dell Rapids.