David Richard Van Vliet

David Richard Van Vliet, 56, of Rochester, died Thursday, June 26, at his home in hospice care.  David was born Oct. 4, 1957, in Lincoln, Neb., to John and Myrna Jean (Johnson) Van Vliet. In 1976, he graduated from high school in Lincoln. Following high school, David attended Moody Bible Institute before graduating with honors from Western Bible College in 1980. In 1987, he graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary. David and Fay Persons were married on June 13, 1981, at St. Charles Bible Church. David served as a pastor in Broken Bow, Neb., and later at Woodland Community Church in Westboro, Wis. Due to health issues, David changed careers as he, Fay and their family moved to Rochester and he began working as a Macintosh specialist at the Mayo Clinic computer help desk.

Survivors include his wife, Fay; daughters, Ginger (Andy) Smith, of Rochester, Emily Van Vliet, of Inver Grove Heights, and Anna (Mike) Scott, of Honolulu, Hawaii; two grandsons, Braedon Smith and Peter Scott; his mother, Myrna Jean Van Vliet, of Lincoln, Neb.; siblings, Edward (Mary) Van Vliet, Jim (Kathy) Van Vliet, Jean Van Vliet and Ralph (Tami) Van Vliet; and his in-laws, the Curtis and Marjorie Persons family of St. Charles. David was preceded in death by his father.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5-8 p.m. Sunday, June 29, at Hoff Funeral Home in St. Charles. Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday at Autumn Ridge Church in Rochester, with visitation one hour prior. Pastors Bill Price and Wes Ooms will officiate. A reception will follow, with burial that afternoon in Hillside Cemetery in St. Charles.

Please share a memory with David's family, view his video tribute and read his complete life story at hofffuneral.com.