Kerry Lynn Van Houten was born on February 6, 1965 to Gerald and Betty (Hauschildt) Huss in Battle Creek, Iowa. She graduated from Battle Creek High School in 1983 where she was a standout athlete in basketball, volleyball and track. She attended the Fashion and Art Institute of Dallas at Omaha, and then attended college at Wayne State, where she studied business. She was married to Kerwin Van Houten on August 2, 1985 at St. Paul Lutheran Church at Midway, IA. Kerry, Kerwin and their three sons moved to College Station, TX, with VT Industries in 1995, then returned to Iowa and settled in Alta in 1998.
Kerry loved being a homemaker and also held various occupations in all of the communities in which she lived. She was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school and was a Sunday school superintendent.
Kerry enjoyed watching her sons play football, baseball and wrestle and loved spending time with her grandchildren, Eva and Vincent. She also enjoyed playing in the adult volleyball and racquetball leagues, bike riding, hiking, traveling and working in her flowerbeds and yard. She loved to help her family and was always there for them. Kerry endured a two-year battle with cancer, but never lost her faith, smile or concern for others above herself. She was an inspiration to many and will be greatly missed!
She is preceded in death by her parents and father-in-law, LaVern Van Houten. She is survived by her husband, Kerwin Van Houten of Alta, IA; sons, Tyler Van Houten and wife Sally of Manson, IA, Morgan Van Houten and fiancée RaShel Woebke of Alta, IA, and Garrett Van Houten and girlfriend Brianna Gaes of Alta, IA; two grandchildren, Vincent Van Houten of Manson, IA and Eva Van Houten of Alta, IA; brothers, Kevin and Laurie Huss, Jon and Lori Day, Keith Huss (Tonya Moore), Kerby and Carrina Huss, and Korey and Kristi Huss; and sister, Kelly and Tom Hickey; mother-in-law, Lola Van Houten; Kerwin’s brothers and sisters-in-law, Mike and Judy Van Houten and Marc and Cheryl Van Houten; and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial:
Kerry L. Van Houten, age 48, of Alta, passed away on Friday, November 1, 2013, at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center of Storm Lake.
Funeral:
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 10:30 AM at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Alta with the Rev. Craig A. Cummins officiating.
Burial:
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 10:30 AM at the St. Paul Lutheran Church of Alta with the Rev. Craig A. Cummins officiating.