Rodney Vlieger

Rodney James Vlieger, 59, died Thursday, July 23, 2009 at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines. Rod was born on August 14, 1949, in Orange City, Iowa to James and Myra (DenHerder) Vlieger.
Rod grew up on a farm outside of Maurice, Iowa until the family moved into town in 1964. He attended Maurice-Orange City schools where he graduated in 1969. The summer after high school, he was injured in a diving accident that left him a quadriplegic, but that didn't stop him for long. He attended college at Northwestern College in Orange City and then the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, graduating with a degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1973. While attending UIUC, he became involved in wheelchair track and competed internationally as a medalist for the U.S. Wheelchair Olympic Team for over 16 years, as well as with the Minneapolis based Rolling Gophers Wheelchair Team.
Rod worked for the State of Iowa as an Environmental Engineer for more than 11 years and then with Hickok and Associates and Montgomery Watson Engineering until his retirement in 1995. Rod then became a licensed local pastor and served as Associate Pastor at the Altoona United Methodist Church.
Rod married Norine (Hull) in 1980 and together they established a home in Altoona where they raised three children. Rod loved gardening and enjoyed sports of any kind. Rod had a passion for his ministry and was quite often found visiting at hospitals, assisted living and hospice. He enjoyed talking with people and always had an entertaining story to share about his life. He truly did live each day of his life to the fullest.
Rod is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Norine; his sons, Collin(CJ), Timothy, daughter Felicia; mother, Myra Vlieger of Orange City; sisters, Sandra (Jack) Ritsema of Ackley and Kathy (John) Leinenkugel of Grimes; brother David (Carla) of Maryville, MO; and several nieces and nephews. Rod was preceded in death by his father, James Vlieger, and grandparents, Henry and Alice (Ruisch) Vlieger and Jacob and Fannie (Schutt) Den Herder.
Visitation will be held July 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Altoona United Methodist Church, 602 5th Ave. SW, Altoona. Funeral services will be held July 28, at 10:30 a.m. at the Altoona United Methodist Church. Family and friends are invited to meet with the family at the Maurice Community Center, 225 Main Street, Maurice, Iowa on Wednesday, July 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. to remember Rod and celebrate his life.
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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