Earl Kleinheksel

Earl M. Kleinheksel went home to glory on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Earl was born on June 11, 1936, to the late Harold and Evelyn (Steketee) Kleinheksel in Fillmore Township, MI.

He married Arlene Bleeker on September 4, 1957, at the Bentheim Reformed Church. Earl & Arlene were completely devoted to each other and their shared life. Family, farming, serving in the church, and travel were all done together. They raised three sons and loved spending time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

As a young single and then married man, Earl served for eight years in the Army National Guard, rising to the rank of Sargent 1st Class in the Mortar Platoon.

Earl spent most of his life living on and farming the land that has now been in his family for over 175 years. He enjoyed raising pigs, chickens, and grain as well as developing some of his land into a living community for many families.

In addition to farming, Earl spent time delivering flowers for Ponderosa Nursery, steel for Excellent Trucking, and parts or new machinery for Filmore Equipment. For 19 years he drove a school bus for Hamilton Community Schools, mostly in the Bentheim area, enjoying the connections he made with the students and other school employees over the years. He enjoyed competing in the annual Bus Rodeo and brought home some trophies.

He was a life-long member of Overisel Reformed Church with roots going back to the original settlers. Earl was a leader in the church, serving several terms as an elder and leading its Mission Committee. His love for studying and teaching the Bible put him in front of classes of children, youth and adults over the years. In the 1990s Earl and his wife Arlene took a class in discipleship at Reformed Bible College and then established a very effective discipleship mentoring program for youth and adults at Overisel Reformed Church. He also enjoyed singing in the choir and participating in the prayer ministry.

Earl and Arlene loved to travel across the United States to see the sights, visit family, or participate in church conferences and events. He also went on mission work trips to Honduras and England as well as helping to build the new dining hall and kitchen at Camp Beechpoint near Allegan.

In his later years Earl took care of Arlene through her decline with dementia, even moving off the family farm and into Appledorn Apartments because it was what she needed. After her passing, he moved into Appledorn North Assisted Living so that his health needs could be met with the assistance of Emmanuel Hospice.

Earl was preceded in death by his wife, Arlene in 2023, grandson, Andrew Kleinheksel in 2000, great-granddaughter, Haley Joy Kleinheksel in 2011, and a granddaughter-in-law, Michelle Kleinheksel in 2024.

Surviving are his sons, Brian (Nancy) Kleinheksel, Kevin (Mary) Kleinheksel, and Jeff (Nancy) Kleinheksel; grandchildren, Sara (Shad) Krull, Joel Kleinheksel, Megan Hassevoort, Benjamin (Megan) Kleinheksel, Katelyn Kleinheksel, Keith Kleinheksel; 7 great-grandchildren; siblings, Mary Verberg and Ruth (John) Stanley, in-laws, Virginia Kleinheksel, Cliff Sale, Doris Miller, and Laura (Harvey) Veldhuis; along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services will be at 1 pm Wednesday (July 3), at Overisel Reformed Church, 4706 142nd Avenue. Burial will be in Overisel Cemetery. Visitation is 6-8 pm Tuesday (July 2) at the church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Overisel Reformed Church Mission Fund.

Arrangements are by the Dykstra Funeral Home-Downtown Chapel.