Dewaine Louis VanHoveln, 88, of Milford passed away on Tuesday, August 6, 2024 at the Iroquois Resident Home in Watseka. He was born on August 20, 1935 in Milford, the son of John E. and Mildred (Lehmann) VanHoveln and they preceded him in death in addition to one brother, Thomas VanHoveln.
He married Joan M. Lucht on June 8, 1957 at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Schwer and she survives. Also surviving are seven children, Thomas (Girtie) VanHoveln of Ward, AR, Theresa (Arlyn) Anderson of Milford, Brian (Katie) VanHoveln of Momence, Anthony (Anna) VanHoveln of Sunrise Beach, MO, Nathan VanHoveln of Milford, Denise (Larry) Burton of Martinton and Matthew (Sharon) VanHoveln of Sherwood, AR; five brothers, Paul (Les) VanHoveln of Onarga, Dennis (Diane) VanHoveln of Milford, Timothy (Linda) VanHoveln of Mattoon, Mark (Shari) VanHoveln of Mooresville, NC and Jonathan (Sandy) VanHoveln of Watseka; one sister, Karen Burgett of St. Charles, MO; thirteen grandchildren, Stacey (Paul) Hoppe, Jason (Joy) Anderson, Kelly (Dan) Grabow, Erin, Nicole and JoAnna VanHoveln, Andrea (Marcus) Sykora, Adam (Kim) VanHoveln, Krista (Cody) McCormick, Kyle Burton, Malynda (Blake) Joyner, Makenzie (Jeffery) Rodgers and John (Emalie) VanHoveln; and twenty-two great-grandchildren.
Dewaine was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church at Schwer, where he was an usher, council member and Bible study member. He was also a Gideon International member, Crescent-Iroquois School board member, Woodland Grade School board member and was on the Woodland Elevator Board of Directors. He was a lifelong farmer and carpenter in the Milford area retiring at the age of 86. Dewaine volunteered at the Prairieview Lutheran Home Fall Festival Fish Fry and also volunteered building churches and doing carpentry work in storm damaged areas in Wisconsin, Iowa and Mexico. His hobbies included making candy, baking and spending time with his family.
Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, August 9, 2024 at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Schwer and also 1 hour prior to the service on Saturday.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 10, 2024 at St. John’s Lutheran Church at Schwer. Rev. Joe Frech will officiate. Burial will follow at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery at Schwer.
Memorials may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church at Schwer, Gideon International or Iroquois Memorial Hospice.
Arrangements are by the Knapp Funeral Home in Watseka.
Please share a memory of Dewaine at knappfuneralhomes.com.
