Johannes Marinus Veldhuis, Sorrento, Florida, entered into the glorious presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on May 27, 2014. He was 92, a man of rare faith, trusting absolutely in the finished work of Jesus Christ for all sin, for all time.
Born December 10, 1921 in Almelo, the Netherlands, to Jan and Marie Veldhuis, he was the youngest of four siblings. He served in the Dutch military in World War II both in the Dutch Army and Navy on the Pacific front where he experienced God's calling to missions work.
He was a missionary in Dutch New Guinea and served as the area's first field director for the Unevangelized Fields Mission, and later with The Evangelical Alliance Mission.
He immigrated to the United States with his wife Eleanor and his 10 children in 1964 where he built Florida Cactus Inc. in Apopka Florida before his retirement in 1977.
He is survived by nine children: Dr. Suzanna L. Veldhuis (Kuipers) of Rochester, Minnesota; Dr. Johannes D Veldhuis of Rochester, Minnesota; Judith V Lovestrand of Apopka, Florida; Michael J Veldhuis of Yuma, Arizona; J Stephen Veldhuis of Tullahoma, Tennessee; E Ruth Wilson of Douglasville, Georgia; Rebekah E Grimwood of Mountain Home, Arkansas; Paula P Veldhuis of Sorrento, Florida; and Stephanie Novakovic of Sorrento, Florida and one sister, Martha Veldhuis of Hamilton, Ontario and 36 grandchildren and also 34 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his wife Eleanor formerly of Ontario Canada, the mother of his 10 children, and his daughter Joanna Marie Karpiak of Miami, Florida, two brothers and his second wife, Lucille, of Zellwood, Florida.
Funeral arrangements are pending in Mountain Home, Arkansas (Kirby Boaz Funeral Home). A memorial service will be held at Volusia County Baptist Church in Orange City, Florida on Saturday, May 31, 2014.