
84
Doon, Iowa
February 14, 2021
Leonard “Red” Van Bemmel, 84, of Doon, Iowa, died Sunday, Feb. 14, 2021, at his home.
Memorial Service was Friday, Feb. 19, at United Reformed Church, Doon, with interment in Hillside Cemetery, Doon.
Leonard “Red” Van Bemmel was born Jan. 18, 193,7 near Doon, son of Albert and Gertrude (Van Tol) Van Bemmel. He attended Doon Christian School and Western Christian High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1955.
On June 1, 1957, he married Sonja Andres. They moved to Doon in 1959 where he worked various jobs in the area including at Doon Co-op. In 1973, he purchased Doon Co-op and operated it as “Red’s Service” until 1999.
Survivors include five children, Rainer (Diane) Van Bemmel of Doon, Patsy (Dennis) Vander Schaaf of Matlock, Iowa, Glenn (Deb) Van Bemmel of Doon, Kathleen (Harlan) Harmelink of Sioux Center, Iowa, and Mike (Lori) Van Bemmel of Doon; 20 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren and three siblings, Gertrude Van Den Top of Hull, Iowa, Marie (Jack) Van Dam of Lake Wilson, Minnesota, and Marion (Carol) Van Bemmel of Luverne, Minnesota.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 44 years; son, Alan Van Bemmel; daughter-in-law, Gloria Van Bemmel; infant brother, Henry; two brothers, Henry Paul Van Bemmel and Alvin Van Bemmel, and three great-grandchildren.