John Van Dyk Obituary

John Arthur Van Dyk, age 98, passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026. John was born on December 12, 1927, in Kenneth, Minnesota.

John married Wylma Lubben of Leota, Minnesota, on May 28, 1953. Their union was blessed with four children. In 1954 they left their hometown of Leota and moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. John was a long-haul truck driver by night, and by day John and Wylma purchased homes, lived in, renovated and flipped a total of 17 houses, before house flipping was a trend, in order to pay for private Christian school for their children.

In 1965 John, with his wife and children in tow, moved to Southern California to pursue work as a truck driver. John and Wylma eventually moved to Enumclaw, Washington, in 1977, where they enjoyed the remainder of their lives. In retirement they spent their winters in Mesa, Arizona.

Throughout John's life, he had a knack for making things grow, be it the dahlias, pumpkins, sunflowers, sweet corn or apples in his garden. He was a devoted tinkerer, always ready with a tool in hand, fixing a tractor, a lawnmower, or his cherished 1931 Ford Model A. John followed the American League and he was an avid Mariners fan. He dreamt of them winning the World Series in his lifetime. In 2025 the Mariners came so close, but John's dream was dashed. John was a go-getter, never sitting down unless it was for a meal, a coffee break, or after dinner when the day was done. He lived by his Christian faith and served as a volunteer in his church and community.

John is survived by his children, Warren Lubben and his wife Mary of Port Orchard, Washington; Barbara De Kam and her husband Wes of Mesa, Arizona; John Van Dyk and his wife Sandy of Salem, Oregon; and Joel Van Dyk and his wife Bibiana of Enumclaw, Washington; along with eight grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. John was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Wylma Van Dyk, his parents and six siblings.

A memorial service celebrating the life of John will be held on Friday, January 23, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. PST at Weeks Funeral Home - Buckley, located at 451 Cemetery Road, Buckley, Washington. A light lunch reception will follow at 1:00 p.m. PST.

We invite all to share their cherished memories of John and upload photos to the memorial page. Let us celebrate the life of a man who touched so many with his kindness and spirit.