Milton Vander Schaaf

Milton Vander Schaaf was born December 11, 1932 on the family farm near Sioux Center, Iowa to John and Harriet (Vermeer) Vander Schaaf. As a child, he attended country school. He was baptized at the 1st Reformed Church in Sioux Center. At age 11 his parents moved to an acreage by Middleburg, IA where they started attending the Middleburg Reformed Church. Milton graduated from high school in Sioux Center in 1950. On June 23, 1952, Milton was united in marriage to Joan Van Veldhuizen at her parents’ home in Hull, Iowa. This union was blessed with eight children. Milton started farming near Sioux Center and then after two years, moved to Beaver Creek, Minnesota where he would farm for the next 12 years, as well as work at the Valley Springs elevator which he did for 2 years. They would then move to Hardwick, Minnesota in 1968 where they bought an acreage and would farm for the next 35 years. After retiring from farming, they rented the land to a neighbor and remained living on the farm place, until they moved into town in September 2025.

Milton was a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne, Minnesota. Previously, he was a member of 1st Reformed Church in Valley Springs, South Dakota.

Hobbies/Interests: Milton enjoyed woodworking, making toys and other gifts with this skill. He also got into scroll saw work and did some beautiful works of art, including clocks which he made for each of his children as well as grandchildren as a wedding gift. Additionally, he and Joan enjoyed doing travel in their retirement to various places including the Holy Land. They also enjoyed gardening and canning together.

Milton is survived by his wife, Joan Vander Schaaf of Hardwick; children, Gloria Smith of Rochester, Minnesota, Gary (Karen) Vander Schaaf of Edgerton, Minnesota, Darlene (William) Kasten of Waterloo, Iowa, Lorraine (Eric) Johnson of Mora, Minnesota, Larry (Barb) Vander Schaaf of Buckeye, Arizona, Melvin (Paula) Vander Schaaf of Apple Valley, Minnesota, and Harriet (Tom) Kielty of Elk River, Minnesota; 20 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; siblings, Herlon (Joan) Vander Schaaf of Sioux Center, June (Harold) Driesen of Hull, Roger (Charlotte) Vander Schaaf of rural Woodstock, Minnesota, Helen (Don) Statema of Orange City, Iowa, and Arlys Zomermaand of Sioux Center. He was preceded in death by his son Delmar, two grandchildren, Janelle Vander Schaaf, and Kimberly Vander Schaaf; siblings, Wilma (Gilbert) Schelling, James (Betty) Vander Schaaf, Henrietta (Bud) Vander Broek, Audrey (Ken) Van Grouw, Wayne (Sharon) Vander Schaaf, and Delbert (Elda) Vander Schaaf; and brother-in-law, Ed Zomermaand.