Dennis Veldhuizen, 64, of Oskaloosa, passed away on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, of a heart attack while doing what he loved – harvesting his crops.
Dennis Dean Veldhuizen, son of Melvin and Eleanor (Goemaat) Veldhuizen, was born October 28, 1960, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Raised on a farm near Cedar, he attended school in Eddyville and graduated in 1979. From a young age, farming was in his blood; he helped his father with the farm work and bought his first tractor while still in high school. He married Judi Bruxvoort on June 8, 1979, at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church. They were blessed with three children and made their home on a farm near Cedar as well. Dennis married Jil (Converse) Fynaardt in 1996, and she passed away in 2017. Dennis remarried Judi on June 8, 2019.
Dennis’s passion was the farm; he was a steward of his land, intending to pass it on in better shape than he received it. He was also meticulous in caring for his buildings, equipment, and yard. Early in his career, he raised hogs; more recently, he has focused on crops. Although he was never formally trained in mechanics and welding, he became an expert in both areas. His children knew they could always count on Dad to fix whatever they needed. Dennis loved having his grandchildren visit, playing in the pool, and spoiling them with juice and ice cream were two of his favorite pleasures. He also loved camping at the Iowa State Fair; roaming the cattle barns, exhibits, and shows, and enjoying the fair food were secondary to relaxing on the deck with his family and friends he had made at the campground. Dennis was a member of Central Church, but for a time, a member of First Christian Church. There, he taught Sunday School – an experience he remembered fondly. Dennis also enjoyed his coffee group at Allied Gas – a place where they discussed solving world problems.
Dennis’s family includes his wife, Judi; his children: Mandy (Curt) Johnston of Oskaloosa, Abby (Scott) Canfield of Des Moines, and Dustin (Megan) Veldhuizen of Oskaloosa; eleven grandchildren: Makenna, Chase, and Cole Johnston, Alison (Jake) Ross, Ashley, Quinn, Drew, and Elliot Canfield, and Holden, Madden, and Peyton Veldhuizen; a sister, Debi (Terry) Peter of Palm Bay, FL; his step-mother, Darlene Veldhuizen; and father-in-law, Jerry Bruxvoort.
In addition to his parents, Mel and Eleanor, he was preceded in death by his mother-in-law, Shirley Bruxvoort.
Funeral Services for Dennis will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Central Church, with Reverend Jon Nelson officiating. Burial will take place in Highland Cemetery, near Eddyville. Visitation will be held on Friday from 1-7 p.m. at Langkamp Funeral Chapel. Memorial contributions can be made to Central Church or the Mahaska Health Foundation for the Hospice Serenity House.
