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StaffLife Story Funeral Director
dvredeveld@lifestorynet.com
It has been said that whoever wants to know the heart and mind of America had better learn baseball. Dan learned early on about what is in people's hearts and minds as baseball was Dan's favorite sport growing up and was a big part of forming his core values of organization, team work, family and community. Dan played short-stop at Zeeland high school and was MVP both his junior and senior years and received Honorable Mention as an All-Conference player.
Dan was born and raised in Zeeland, the son of Norm and Bonnie Vredeveld. His wife, the former Dee Dee Hofmeyer of Holland, was the perfect match for Dan from the first time he saw her. The romance began and both of them discovered they had a lot in common. Two years later they were married. Now their son, Kuri, attends Lincoln Elementary School in Zeeland just like Dan did and Dan's mom before him. Dan and Dee Dee, son Kuri and daughter Kaci, love to vacation at Glen Lake like Dan did with his folks when he was a boy. Dan keeps his sports card collection going, too-now with Kuri's help. Together they have thousands of baseball, racing (NASCAR), and hockey (Red Wings) cards. Dan and his family are members of Trinity Reformed Church, where he has served as both clerk and chairman of the Deacons.
Dan knew in 9th grade that he wanted to be a funeral director. He wanted to help people. So he went right from high school to Grand Rapids Junior College for his pre-mortuary science courses and then to Wayne State University. He served his apprenticeship at a funeral home in Grand Rapids and quickly found his way back home. Dan joined the Dykstra staff in 1985 and is a true professional at helping families through a difficult time. He knows what it's like to experience the loss of a loved one. His sister, Kim, died of Leukemia when Dan was just eight years old; and Dan and Dee Dee's daughter, Kylie, was stillborn on Memorial Day, 1997.
Family, community, baseball, and organization. Dan does it all and takes great pride in each. When it comes to funeral service, though, he's all about helping people. The famous statement from Maya Angelou certainly applies to Dan: "If you find it in your heart to care for someone else, you will have succeeded".
Dan was born and raised in Zeeland, the son of Norm and Bonnie Vredeveld. His wife, the former Dee Dee Hofmeyer of Holland, was the perfect match for Dan from the first time he saw her. The romance began and both of them discovered they had a lot in common. Two years later they were married. Now their son, Kuri, attends Lincoln Elementary School in Zeeland just like Dan did and Dan's mom before him. Dan and Dee Dee, son Kuri and daughter Kaci, love to vacation at Glen Lake like Dan did with his folks when he was a boy. Dan keeps his sports card collection going, too-now with Kuri's help. Together they have thousands of baseball, racing (NASCAR), and hockey (Red Wings) cards. Dan and his family are members of Trinity Reformed Church, where he has served as both clerk and chairman of the Deacons.
Dan knew in 9th grade that he wanted to be a funeral director. He wanted to help people. So he went right from high school to Grand Rapids Junior College for his pre-mortuary science courses and then to Wayne State University. He served his apprenticeship at a funeral home in Grand Rapids and quickly found his way back home. Dan joined the Dykstra staff in 1985 and is a true professional at helping families through a difficult time. He knows what it's like to experience the loss of a loved one. His sister, Kim, died of Leukemia when Dan was just eight years old; and Dan and Dee Dee's daughter, Kylie, was stillborn on Memorial Day, 1997.
Family, community, baseball, and organization. Dan does it all and takes great pride in each. When it comes to funeral service, though, he's all about helping people. The famous statement from Maya Angelou certainly applies to Dan: "If you find it in your heart to care for someone else, you will have succeeded".
