Cover photo for Henry M (Jack) Van Dam's Obituary
Henry M (Jack) Van Dam Profile Photo
1938 Henry 2025

Henry M (Jack) Van Dam

December 20, 1938 — April 8, 2025

Chandler, MN


Henry Marvin “Jack” Van Dam

December 20, 1938 — April 8, 2025

Henry Marvin “Jack” Van Dam was born on December 20, 1938, in Slayton, Minnesota, to Henry Jr. and Eva (Van Ruler) Van Dam. The local schoolteacher boarded with the family, and she looked after Jack after school. As he was quite the rambunctious young man, she joked that he was like a little jackrabbit, and that is how he earned the nickname “Jack,” which is how most people knew him.

He attended country school in Murray County through the 8th grade, and he later earned his GED. He worked with his dad on the family farm until he was drafted into the US Army in 1961. He served in Fort Hood, Texas, until he was honorably discharged in 1963. While serving in the army he met his bride to be when she sent him a pen pal letter, and they began corresponding on a regular basis.

After he returned from serving in the army, Jack married Marie Van Bemmel on January 28, 1964, in the Christian Reformed Church in Doon, IA. They enjoyed a three-week honeymoon, traveling to the West coast to visit family and friends and enjoyed many sights along the way. 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 4 children and 6 grandchildren, and Jack loved hearing about the grandkids’ events and activities.

Jack was a faithful member of Chandler Reformed Church, and he taught Sunday School for several years. He enjoyed visiting with friends and family, and he would strike up a conversation with everyone he met. He and Marie worked together on the farm and Gary joined them, eventually taking over the family operation. Jack delivered water to people throughout the area for many years, and he came to know many of those customers as friends. He loved to read and enjoyed learning about all different areas, especially if it was related to farming. He was a proud member of the Chandler American Legion for 47 years, and he served as the treasurer for several years. Due to health issues, he moved to the Edgebrook Care Center in Edgerton in 2019. He enjoyed all the activities including Bible study, playing bingo, and of course, visiting with other residents, the staff and any visitors.

Jack is lovingly remembered by his 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 (significant other Dar Schuld) of Minneota, MN; six grandchildren, Cassandra, Lillian, Eve, and Kevin Matthew Van Dam, Trevor and Thomas Belaen; four siblings, Marvin Van Dam of Chandler, Albert (Sandy) Van Dam of Slayton, Kathy (Verlin) Rylaarsdam of Chandler, and Della (Aldon) Klassen of Sioux Falls; four sisters-in-law: Marcella (John) Groen of Chandler, Connie Hacker of Fargo, ND, Gertrude Van Den Top of Hull, IA, and Wilma Van Bemmel of Doon, IA; and brother-in-law Marion (Carol) Van Bemmel of Luverne, MN.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Marie; son-in-law, Donald Belaen; brothers Harold Van Dam and Jim Van Dam; sister-in-law Donna Van Dam; brothers-in-law Henry Paul (Mary Ann) Van Bemmel, John Van Den Top, Leonard (Ruth) Van Bemmel, and Alvin Van Bemmel.

Henry M. (Jack) Van Dam passed away on Tuesday, April 8. A Visitation will be held at the Chandler Funeral Home in Chandler, MN on Friday, April 11, 2025, from 4-7PM. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at the Chandler Reformed Church at 10:30AM with burial to follow at the Chandler Memorial Cemetery.


To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Henry M (Jack) Van Dam, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Visitation

Friday, April 11, 2025

4:00 - 7:00 pm (Central time)

Chandler Funeral Association

510 5th St. PO Box 83, Chandler, MN 56122

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Funeral Service

Saturday, April 12, 2025

10:30 - 11:30 am (Central time)

Chandler Reformed Church

250 3rd Street, Chandler, MN 56122

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Burial

Saturday, April 12, 2025

11:30am - 12:30 pm (Central time)

Chandler Memorial Cemetery

476 Minnesota 91, Chandler, MN 56122

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Guestbook

Visits: 765

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

Send Flowers

Send Flowers

Plant A Tree

Plant A Tree