Longtime harness racing industry participant John Harmelink of Sioux City, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2020, at the age of 90.
John Erwin Harmelink was born on Aug. 29, 1930, in Rock Valley's first hospital. His parents were Gerrit and Minnie (Van Eldik) Harmelink. The family lived on the edge of Rock Valley, and John attended Rock Valley Public School, graduating in 1948. He then spent two years at Iowa State University, majoring in Agricultural Education. On April 2, 1951, John joined the US Navy for a four-year enlistment, serving largely at Naval Submarine Base New London in Connecticut. After release from active duty, he spent one semester at Central College in Pella, Iowa.
John was united in marriage with his high school sweetheart, Margie Kramer, on March 15, 1955, at First Reformed Church in Rock Valley. John and Marge purchased a farm west of Rock Valley a year later, and lived there until 2019. They raised livestock and crops. When John was no longer actively farming, he focused on a large garden with Neal Feenstra, raising tomatoes and giant pumpkins, and tending chickens. Over the years many, many friends and family members spent time visiting at the farm. He was a gifted conversationalist, and never knew a stranger, at least not for long.
They owned and operated Rock Valley Sales Co. as a livestock auction barn, and later built a successful hay and straw auction. John was an accomplished auctioneer, and also sold real estate. He was the keynote speaker at the National Hay Convention in Milwaukee, Wis., and notably got the audience's attention by opening his remarks with a live auction call.
John was introduced to harness racing by a friend of the family, Pete Vander Velde, in the early 1960s. He actively trained and drove racehorses for the next almost 30 years, mainly on the fair circuit in Iowa and Minnesota. He also announced many races, and was a credentialed Presiding Judge for Iowa fair racing.
He was a longtime member of the United States Trotting Association. He had fun with the names of his racehorses, his favourites being horses named after friends or family members. Notable were Gary The Great, Martin Buckley, Minda J, Mama Marge, Al Pruis, Charla Beth and Jeremiah Judge. Among his favourite racing memories were taking the family to Winnipeg, Manitoba, to watch Gary The Great win going four-wide at Assiniboia Downs; watching Al Pruis chart his first win at Humboldt, Iowa; and having all the local horsemen come to the farm on Saturdays in the spring and early summer to train horses together.
John was a member of Faith Reformed Church in Rock Valley. He was a Sunday School teacher, and he and Marge represented their church at a missions conference at Hofstra University in New York. They also traveled to Vietnam with Hope Haven International Ministries to distribute wheelchairs.
John loved Rock Valley, and served as the general chairman for two of Rock Valley's events -- the Diamond Jubilee in 1955 and the Centennial celebration in 1979. He was also a member of the local American Legion. He was a member of the basketball team when in high school, and always rooted for the local school sports teams, attending as many games as possible. When mobility challenges made attending live games difficult, he and Marge would listen with rapt attention to the broadcast of the games on KVDB radio.
He frequented the Rock Valley Public Library, and was a voracious reader. He and Marge would compete to see who could read the most books in a year. His favourites were nonfiction, particularly World War II topics.
John is survived by Marge, his wife of 65 years; daughters Minda Thompson (Merlin Thompson) and Marcia Harmelink (Michael Piontkowski); son Gary Harmelink (Laura Harmelink); grandchildren Beti Littlegeorge, Beth Richter (Nick), Jeremiah Thompson (Robin), Jordan Harmelink and Bennett Harmelink; great-grandchildren Skylar Richter, NyKeylauna Richter, Isaac Richter, Tristan Thompson, Adriana Littlegeorge, Alexis Littlegeorge, Alaina Littlegeorge, Josiah Thompson, and Delilah Thompson; sisters Joan Goetsch and Ruth Harmelink; brothers-in-law Dennis Kaldenberg, Gerald Van Der Vliet, and Jerry Johnson; and sisters-in-law Henrietta Paulson and Ruby Kramer.
He was preceded in death by his parents; stepmother Rena Harmelink; sister Caroline King; brothers- and sisters-in-law Ron King, Gerald Goetsch, Leo and Hattie Monster, Hank and Julie Kramer, Jay and Annie Kramer, Bert and Jennie Kramer, Phil Kramer, Martin and Millie Kramer, Jennie Johnson, Bill and Liz Van Duyn, Richard and Alice Park, Mary Van Der Vliet, and Wally Paulson.
A private funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday (Nov. 25) at Faith Reformed Church in Rock Valley, followed by interment at Valley View Cemetery in Rock Valley. A public visitation with no family present will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. on Nov. 24 at Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley. Masks are required at the visitation. The funeral service will be livestreamed on www.faithrv.com. Memorials may be directed to Hope Haven International Ministries. Condolences may be left for the family at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of John Harmelink.