John Van Middendorp

John T. Van Middendorp, loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away at the age of 87 surrounded by his family. John was born on March 6, 1938, to Teunis and Alice Van Middendorp of Rock Rapids, Iowa. John was the oldest of 3 siblings. On February 17, 1960, John married his love, Lavonna Van Middendorp (Van Der Weide). Together, they built a life rooted in love and faith. They raised 6 children together on the farm in Iowa before relocating to Lynden, Washington in 1978. In 1981 they moved their farm to Sumas WA. There they welcomed their seventh child. Known for his gentle spirit and quiet devotion, John was a man who deeply loved his family, his country, and his faith. He cherished simple things like sharing stories, playing Dutch bingo, and keeping up with the news. He served in the South Dakota National Guard during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. He lived out his values daily with humility and grace. John loved farming and, even through retirement, had a keen interest in the daily operations of his son's dairy farms both in Iowa and in Washington. He and his wife made annual trips to Iowa, cherishing the time spent with family and friends. They especially enjoyed gathering around a table, sharing good food and conversation with loved ones. In his final days, John shared a heartfelt testimony of God's saving grace, imparting a deep spiritual message to all who knew him, especially his family. John is preceded in death by his loving wife of 65 years, Lavonna Van Middendorp, his parents Teunis and Alice Van Middendorp and seven in-laws; Dorothy, Willie, Clara, Arthur, Geneva, Norman and Egbert. He is survived by his sister Joann Van Beek, brother Marvin Van Middendorp, sister-in-law Audrey (Oroville) Pluim, brother-in-law Dennis (Nancy) Van Der Weide, sister-in-law Wilma Van Der Weide, Ada Van Der Weide and Marg Van Der Weide. John leaves behind seven children. Todd (Joanne) Van Middendorp of Hull IA, Julie (Bill) DeBoer of Lynden WA, Jay (Nancy) Van Middendorp of Sumas WA, Larry (Kathleen) Van Middendorp of Everson WA, Alice (Tom) Yonkman of Sumas WA, Olivia (Frank) Kardux of Chilliwack BC, and Steve (Emily) Van Middendorp of Everson WA. He leaves behind 41 grandchildren and 52 great-grandchildren. A Prayer and Scripture meditation will be held on Friday, September 5, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Gillies Funeral Home, followed by a graveside service at the Sumas Cemetery. A Memorial service will then be held at 5:00 p.m. at the Netherlands Reformed Church in Lynden. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of John, please visit our Tree Store.