Arlene D. Vanden Hoek

Arlene D. Vanden Hoek, 92, of Britt, passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2024, at the Westview Care Center in Britt.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the Britt Christian Reformed Church with Pastor Kevin Boss officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 9 to 11 a.m., on Saturday, December 14th at the Britt Christian Reformed Church. Cataldo Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be directed to the Britt Christian Reformed Church.

Arlene Delores Vanden Hoek, the daughter of Fred and Trienette (Huisinga) Redenius, was born on November 5, 1932, on a farm northwest of Britt. Arlene graduated from Britt High School in 1950. She graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa with a degree in elementary education.  Arlene taught rural school three years before she was married, and a baptized/confessing member of the Woden Christian Reformed Church. On May 28, 1954, she married Kenneth Vanden Hoek at the Woden Christian Reformed Church.  The couple moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where she was employed as a medical secretary at the University of Minnesota Hospital. In 1955 she and her husband moved to Des Moines, Iowa where she taught in the Des Moines School System.  She was also a member of the Des Moines Christian Reformed Church while there. Later they moved to Britt, Iowa where she taught in the Britt Community School System for seventeen years.  Arlene, a kind, conscientious and happy person, was well known and loved by her students for years after her retirement.  It was common to hear former students fondly say, “Hello Mrs. Vanden Hoek!” and “She was my teacher!”

Arlene was a devoted Christian and a member of the Britt Christian Reformed Church where she served as president of the Britt Ladies Aid and taught Sunday School.

Working in the yard, tending to her beautiful flowers and feeding the many birds and squirrels was a favorite pastime of Arlene’s. In the home, Arlene enjoyed reading and playing hymns on her electric organ for husband Ken.  

Ken, suffering from Alzheimer’s, was faithfully taken care of in the home by Arlene for at least seven years before he moved into the nursing home this past May.  Then in November, her 92^ndbirthday celebration was held at the nursing home as she was reunited once again with her husband Ken as roommates. “Your mom was an extraordinary woman,” a relative recently wrote.  Yes she was indeed, loved by so many, and will be greatly missed.

Arlene is survived by her husband Kenneth of 70 years; children, Linda (Pastor Cliff) Hoekstra of Sioux Center, Iowa and John Vanden Hoek of Spencer and his fiancée, Kelly Plueger; grandchildren, Keith (Katie) Hoekstra, Kayla (Scott) Stuerman, Derek (Emily) Vanden Hoek, Jody Vanden Hoek and her boyfriend, Avery Baker; eight great-grandchildren; two sisters, Elaine Lillo and Dorothy Eshuis; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Alfred Redenius, two sisters Marjorie Stecker and Gladys Alphs; and grandson, Chad Hoekstra.