Darlene Mae Van Zee
Darlene Mae Breukelman Van Zee was born on May 7, 1931 to Hank and Lillian (Tegethoff) Breukelman in Joubert, South Dakota.
In 1937, during hard years, the family moved to Denver, Colorado to be close to family. Darlene lived and went to school in Denver until her mother’s death in 1945. At that time, at the age of 14, Darlene took on the role of mother, raising her two younger brothers, alongside her dad. Two years later, at the age of 16, they moved back to South Dakota.
She met Marvin Van Zee and they were married on November 24, 1950. They were married for almost fifty-seven years. To this union six children were born.
Darlene worked faithfully alongside her husband operating Marvin Van Zee Trucking until they retired in 1994. She would dispatch phone calls through the night and solely did the bookwork for the business all the while raising their family as Marvin was on the road.
Darlene was a faithful member of the Platte Christian Reformed Church. Darlene enjoyed attending Bible study and exercise time and going to coffee with friends. She loved baking for her family’s weekly Sunday lunch gathering with Grandma Dar brownies always a favorite. She took pride in keeping up her yard and could be seen on her mower up to this past summer. She was an avid reader, loved doing Sudoku and playing games. She cherished visits from her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids - almost 90 strong.
She was a wonderful role model for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Darlene Van Zee went to her heavenly home on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the Platte Health Center, Platte, South Dakota.
Grateful for having shared her life are her children: Ron and Jan Van Zee, Platte, SD; Ken and Nancy Van Zee, Platte, SD; Keith and Renita Van Zee, Platte, SD; Doug and Brenda Van Zee, Canton, SD; Cyndee and Dave VanDerPol, New Holland, SD; and Bob and Karen Van Zee, Parkston, SD; grandchildren: Kendra and Rob Van Hill, Brian and Heather Van Zee, Matt and Tosha Van Zee, Heather and Evan Anema, Eric Van Zee, Ross and Joni Van Zee, Jenna and Josh Veurink, Janie and Matt Smith, Chelsea Van Zee Rose, Preston and Kimberly Van Zee, Megan and Kyle Munneke, Farrah and Travis Dyk, Paige and Stacy Harmsen, Taryn and Jon Hoeksema, Morgan and Adam Zwanziger, Parker and Halie Van Zee, Brooklyn and Jarod Severson, and Cole Van Zee; forty-one great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law: Jeanette Van Zee and Marlene Breukelman and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Marvin in 2007, her parents Hank and Lillian Breukelman and three brothers Alvin, Raymond, and Dwayne.
Memorial Services for Darlene Van Zee age 91 of Platte, SD, will be held on Friday March 24 at 1:30 PM at Christian Reformed Church, Platte, SD. Private family burial will take place before the memorial Service. There is a visitation Thursday evening at the church from 5-7 PM.
