Marie (Van Bemmel) Van Dam

Marie (Van Bemmel) Van Dam

Marie (Van Bemmel) Van Dam passed away peacefully at Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton, MN on August 31, 2023. Visitation will be on Monday, September 4, 2023 from 6:00-8:00PM at the Chandler Funeral Home in Chandler, MN. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 10:30AM at the Chandler Reformed Church in Chandler, MN with a burial service to follow.

   Marie Van Dam was born on April 5, 1935 near Alvord, IA to Albert and Gertrude (Van Tol) Van Bemmel. She attended Doon Christian School through the 8th grade. After school Marie worked at Otis Manufacturing in Haywarden, IA; a hotel in Rock Rapids; and in housekeeping before working at the Ben Franklin store in Rock Valley, IA for 5 years.  

   Marie met Henry Marvin (Jack) Van Dam when she sent him a letter while he was serving in the U.S. Army. They were married on January 28, 1964, in the Christian Reformed Church in Doon, IA. They lived on a farm northwest of Chandler until 1974 when they moved to Jack’s family home southwest of Lake Wilson. They were blessed with four children and six grandchildren who she loved to spoil, especially with ice cream.

   She was a faithful member of Chandler Reformed Church. She enjoyed visiting with friends and family and always welcomed the neighborhood kids for games of kick the can. She enjoyed spending time outdoors working in the garden and mowing lawn. She worked alongside Jack on the farm, driving tractor and unloading bales when needed. She also helped with school activities including chaperoning school trips. Once her children were grown, she cleaned houses for “older people”. She was a member of the Auxiliary for 17 years and also volunteered her time at the Murray County Food Shelf for over 20 years earning a WCCO Good Neighbor Award nomination.

    Marie is lovingly remembered by her husband Jack of 59 years; four children: Kevin (Kim) Van Dam of Sioux Falls, SD; Gary Van Dam of Lake Wilson; Dennis (Karen) Van Dam of Blue Ash, OH; and Debra Belaen (partner Dar Schuld) of Minneota, MN; two siblings: Gertrude Van Den Top of Hull, IA and Marion (Carol) Van Bemmel of Luverne, MN; two sisters-in-law: Mary Ann Van Bemmel of Rock Valley, IA and Wilma Van Bemmel of Doon, IA; and six grandchildren: Cassandra, Lillian, Eve, and Kevin Matthew Van Dam, Trevor and Thomas Belaen.

   Marie was preceded in death by her parents; son-in-law, Donald Belaen; infant brother, Henry; brothers, Henry Paul Van Bemmel, Alvin Van Bemmel; brother and sister-in-law Leonard (Sonja Ruth) Van Bemmel; and brother-in-law, John Van Den Top.

 In lieu of flowers the family encourages donations to the Murray County Food Shelf, in memory of Marie's many years of service to the food shelf.

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