Herman Van Zyl

Herman Van Zyl of rural Montevideo, died on Friday, February 9, 2007 at the Renville County Hospital in Olivia, MN at the age of 89.

Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, February 13, 2007 at 2:00 PM at Hope Reformed Church in Montevideo with Pastor Mike Altena officiating.  Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery.  Visitation will be Monday afternoon and evening with the family being present from 5 - 7 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home in Montevideo.

Herman Van Zyl was born on January 18, 1918 in Newkirk, IA to Guy and Minnie (Harmelick) Van Zyl.  He grew up and attended school in Newkirk.  On August 3, 1939 he was united in marriage to Marie Noteboom.  They lived and farmed in Newkirk and Archer, IA before moving in 1950 to a farm in Grace Township north of Montevideo, MN.  He has been a resident of the Franklin Home in Franklin, MN for the past 2 ½ years. He was a former member of Rosewood United Methodist Church and was currently a member of Hope Reformed Church in Montevideo.  He had served his church as a Sunday School teacher, confirmation teacher and a lay leader.  He was a very proficient horse shoe pitcher and enjoyed baseball, softball, bowling, and gardening.  He especially enjoyed visiting with people and visiting those in nursing homes.  He was very important in the lives of his grandchildren and watching them grow up was one of his joys.

He is survived by a son: Gerald “Jerry” Van Zyl and his wife Carol of Montevideo; three grandchildren: Kimberly (Russell) Marcus, Patricia (Rich) Moen, and Douglas (Danielle) Van Zyl; nine great-grandchildren: Jessica, Zachary, Joshua, and Benjamin Marcus, Tyler & Cassidy Moen, and Parker, Lani and Liza Van Zyl as well as by several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marie in 2005; a sister, Fannie Dekker and by two brothers: Ralph Van Zyl and Guy Van Zyl, Jr.