Junior Van Gorp Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Oskaloosa. Marion “Jr” Van Gorp, Jr., 85, of Oskaloosa, died Thursday, April 18, 2019, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City. He was born December 11, 1933, in Pella, Iowa, the son of Marion C. and Janet W. Van Gorp. He graduated from Pella High School with the class of 1951. Following graduation, he entered the United States Army. On September 28, 1951, he was united in marriage to Helen Colville at Knoxville. Junior’s military service took the couple to Germany. While there they adopted their daughter Jan. Junior and Helen later divorced. Upon his discharge from the Army the family settled in Rock Island, Illinois. While in Rock Falls, he worked at the steel mill there. After a few years they moved back to Pella and worked at the family motel and started a salvage yard. In 1963, Junior and his brother Dirk bought property south of Oskaloosa and established Van Gorp Auto Recyclers. The two of them ran the business together until 1992, when Junior bought Dirk’s half of the business and became the sole owner. He continued to own and operate the business until his passing. Junior married Ann Wade Childs on October 23, 1999. Ann passed away June 6, 2014. Junior was a member of the V.F.W, American Legion Post 34, Oskaloosa Elks, and First Christian Church. He loved to be around people and often went to breakfast with friends and spent evenings at the Legion. Weekends were spent with his family at the lake. He enjoyed traveling to Arizona with his family, working on cars, being at the shop with the customers and friends, and watching NASCAR, and baseball. Junior is survived by his daughter Jan Carter of Oskaloosa; three grandchildren, Jessica (Kevin) Kilcoin of Des Moines, Jennifer Carter of Carroll, and Mike Carter of Des Moines; three great grandsons Pryor, Oliver, and Oden; a great granddaughter October; a sister-in-law, Diane Van Gorp of Oskaloosa, his special friend Icel Molyneux; and many extended family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, two wives Helen and Ann, and his brother, Dirk Van Gorp. Funeral Services will be held Monday, April 22, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with Reverend Robert Goodrich officiating. As was Junior’s wish his body will be cremated following the funeral. Private family burial will be in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will begin Monday after 11 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 4 p.m. until service time at 6 p.m. on Monday. Memorials may be made to Stephen’s Memorial Animal Shelter in Oskaloosa.

Junior Van Gorp

December 11, 1933 - April 18, 2019

Obituary & Service

Flowers & Gifts

Junior Van Gorp

December 11, 1933 - April 18, 2019

Obituary & Service

Share a Memory Below

Flowers & Gifts