Harold "Howie" Van Liere

Harold William “Howie” Van Liere, 77, of Chester died Monday, March 22, 2010 at his home after a brief illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM Friday, March 26, 2010 at Huntimer St. Joseph the Workman Catholic Church, rural Colton. A Scripture Service will be at 7:00 PM Thursday, March 25, 2010 with the family present at 6:00 PM all at the church.

Harold “Howie” Van Liere was born November 17, 1932 in Colton to parents Bill and Nellie (Visser) Van Liere. Howie was raised in Colton and graduated from Colton High School in 1950. At the age of 17, Howie took over the Texaco Station when his dad was diagnosed with cancer and passed away. He still ran the station with Dawn and his son Ryan and would have celebrated his 60th anniversary this coming June.

On June 17, 1952, Howie married Dawn Huntimer at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Huntimer. He became a member of the church at that time. He was very busy running the business, but also loved playing amateur baseball in the summer and basketball in the winter.

Howie and Dawn were blessed with six children, nineteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.

Howie stayed busy with the children and his business. In the early 1960’s he helped plan and build an airport east of Colton on land leased from Glen Wiese. This was in use for over twenty years. He gave a lot of “first” airplane rides to many parents and kids. Many of us remember Howie’s “rollercoaster rides” in the sky. He also flew family on many trips around the country. He also converted an old school bus into the Partridge family camper and traveled to many different places. He loved camping, fishing, snowmobiling and boating with his family and friends.

Howie was also involved in baseball. He spent eighteen years coaching youth baseball. He also played, umpired games and coached the pee wee’s through the American Legion. In 1981 he helped plan and build a baseball diamond on the south end of the Colton Park for the young people of Colton.

Howie and Dawn resided in Colton in Howie’s childhood home until they bought a lake home on Lake Brandt by Chester. They enjoyed the lake so much they made it their permanent home in 1989.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Dawn, Chester; his children, Alan (Liz) Van Liere, Litchfield, MN; Melani Crosby, Sioux Falls; Kim Crosby, Seville, FL; Brenda (J.D.) Amundson, Colton; Troy (Lisa) Van Liere, Gaylord, MI; Ryan (Angie) Van Liere, Colton; nineteen grandchildren; fourteen great grandchildren with one on the way; two sisters, Dorothy (Garret) Reurink, Colton; Joan (Lyle) Johnson, Pensacola, Fl; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Bill Van Liere, his mother, Nellie Waswick, granddaughter, Kara Crosby and a brother Bob Van Liere.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Huntimer-St.Joseph the Workman Catholic Church.