Beernink, Vernon James "Vern" 1938-2026

BEERNINK, KEMPERS, HUYGENS

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/15/2026 at 15:08:22

Mr. Vernon Beernink, age 88, of Sioux Center, passed away on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the Orange City Area Health System.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Monday, June 29, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the New Life Church in Sioux Center. A prayer service will take place on Tuesday, June 30, at 10:00am, at the church, followed by interment at the Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center. There will be a memorial service on Tuesday, at 11:00am, at the church with the Rev. Bobby Van Otterloo and the Rev. Dan Kruse officiating. The Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City is in charge of arrangements.

Vernon ‘Vern’ James was born at home on the farm near Sioux Center, on April 29, 1938, to William ‘Bill’ Samuel and Johanna (Kempers) Beernink.

After graduating from Sioux Center High School in 1955, Vernon continued working on the family farm southwest of Sioux Center, which was homesteaded by his great-grandfather Hendrik Willem Beernink. This is the same farm which Vernon has expanded and continued to farm until his retirement in December of 2025, with the exception of one year when he worked at a dairy in California.

Vernon’s main focus has always been farming, but his circle of influence and contributions to the community extended into many other areas. Starting in 1993, he was elected to the Sioux County Board of Supervisors and served for four terms. He served many years on the Sioux Center Hospital Board, the Sioux Center Farmers’ Cooperative Elevator Board, as well as an elder at First Reformed Church. He worked tirelessly to facilitate the building of the Sioux County Regional Airport, as well as to seek out new businesses and industries to integrate into Sioux Center. Vernon was continuously seeking out ways to grow and improve the community — locally, county-wide, state-wide, and nationally. He had a great sense of vision for growth.

Vernon has received a great many awards for both service and achievement, but one of his all-time favorites was being chosen as the 1992 recipient of the Wallace’s Farmer Magazine’s Iowa Master Farmer Award. He was always working to improve his farming practices, and it showed.

Vernon loved music. He had a beautiful tenor voice singing solo and in choirs and could often be heard singing while working around the farm.

Vernon would tell anyone over and over, that his greatest achievement in life was his relationship with Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior. He had a heart for those going through difficulties; and when it was something similar to what he had gone through, he would often show up at the door or call the suffering to comfort, encourage and listen. He was always seeking to help others, preferably in the shadows and without recognition. Even in his fight with cancer, he would be calling other cancer patients just to talk and encourage; then taking those concerns to the Lord in prayer. Our prayer warrior is now in the Lord’s presence, still petitioning for the suffering.

On February 18, 2011, Vernon married the love of his life, Barbara Huygens. They would spend the next more than fifteen years farming together, traveling some, and being blessed by the Lord to serve Him. It was a wonderful time for both.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, of Sioux Center; two children, Mark (Brenda) Beernink, of Rochester, Minnesota; and Barbara (Matt) Den Herder, of Sioux Center; two stepchildren, Daniel Huygens, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and Sarah Huygens, of Loja, Ecuador; eleven grandchildren and step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents and parents-in-law; three children, Janice Beernink, James (Jim) Beernink, and Bradley (Brad) Beernink; a grandson, Dylan Nibbelink; a brother and his wife, Don (June) Beernink; and a sister and her husband, Gladys (Pete) Schut.

Memorials will be given to the New Life Church Building Fund.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.