Published: November 07, 2008 03:36 pm            

Jeff Rankin

On January 27, 1956, Richard and Karen Hoagland Rankin gave birth to their first child, whom they named Jeffrey Harold. Jeffrey Harold Rankin was born in Newton, Iowa. Jeff was raised on a farm and lived his entire life in rural Reasnor, Iowa. He attended the Lynnville-Sully Grade School and graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School in Sully, Iowa with the Class of 1974. During high school he was active in music and band, sang in chorus and participated in plays. Subsequent to high school Jeff took college courses as an adult at Marshalltown Community College at Marshalltown in Engineering. He also had aspirations of becoming a pilot.

While attending a Christian concert in Marshalltown, Iowa, Jeff met Kathryn Kay Madson. They were united in marriage on May 27, 1978, at the Nazareth Lutheran Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Christ was at the center of their relationship and remained at the center of their household. Together they raised a wonderful family of five children: Krista Joy, Rachel Renae, Jonathan Michael, Sarah Beatrice and Jenny Michelle. Jeff always had a song for every occasion, and musical abilities continued to be prevalent in the family talents.

Jeff supported his family by working in the Engineering department, and also as a Quality Tech Inspector at Vermeer Manufacturing in Pella, Iowa. He had been an employee there for 30 years. Singing and playing guitar and programming music was always an integral part of Jeff’’s life. He loved worshipping the Lord through music and played for St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church near Galesburg, Iowa. He was baptized, and later as a teen accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. Jeff enjoyed reading, sailing, flying remote- controlled airplanes, and spending time with his family.

Jeff’s witness on this earth was completed when he met his Heavenly Father at the age of 52 years on Tuesday morning, October 21, 2008, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella, Iowa. His loved ones waiting to meet him again in Heaven are his wife, Kathryn K. Rankin, his five children: Krista J. Rankin of Waukee, Iowa, Rachel R. Muthomi and her husband, Emmanuel of Ames, Iowa, Jonathan M. Rankin and his wife, Shelly of Des Moines, Iowa, Sarah B. Rankin and Jenny M. Rankin both at home; three special grandchildren: Trinity Mwendwa, Christian Mwenda, and Sacred-Hope Kendi Muthomi; his parents, Richard and Karen Rankin of Reasnor, Iowa; his brother, James Richard Rankin and his wife, Jeanette of Pella, Iowa; his two sisters: Peggy Jo and her husband, Pat Richter of Bath, Maine, Lisa Marie and her husband, Scott Ver Ploeg of Hartville, Missouri; his father-in-law and mother-in-law: Lyle and Pat Madson of Fort Collins, Colorado, sister-in-law, Laura Madson of Loveland, Colorado, brother-in-law, Scott Madson and his wife, Beth of Alexandria, Minnesota; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Jeff was preceded in death by his grandparents: Harold and Beatrice Rankin, Ralph and Johanna Hoagland, cousins: Wes Lamp and Thadd Hoagland, and niece, Jessalyn Ver Ploeg. Arrangements by Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.vandykduven.com

It is the wish of the family that memorials be given for St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church at Galesburg, Iowa or the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella.

        

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