Willis Van Wyhe

Tribute

Willis Edwin Van Wyhe of Surprise, Arizona, was born on August 28, 1938, on the family farm near Sioux Center, Iowa. At the age of 87, during a brief hospital stay, he was welcomed into the arms of Jesus on April 2, 2026. Will was the 7th of 10 children born to Gerrit and Albertha (DeWeerd) Van Wyhe. He attended country schools until high school, where he attended Hull Western Christian. Western, at the time, had student bus drivers, so Will drove the bus his junior and senior years to help pay tuition for his sisters to attend the Christian School. He would milk the cows, get the bus ready, clean up, eat breakfast, dress, and too often wait for his sisters. He and his dad were always willing to try something new on the farm, like raising popcorn and making homebrew root beer. His dad died when he was 19. It didn’t take him long after that to decide that California might have more to offer than milking cows for his brother. While in California, he met the love of his life, Sharon Kay Bajema. They met in church, where Sharon was drawn to him because he was a tall Dutchman. They were married on January 20, 1961, in Denver, Colorado. Thomas Ryan was born on December 25, 1961, in Denver. Lyn Willette was born on April 8, 1964, in Denver. Brad Lee was born on October 1, 1967, and adopted into the Van Wyhe family when he was 6 weeks old while the family lived in Greeley, Colorado. Will was a hard worker and loyal employee. He had various jobs, including truck driver, milk man, and landscaper, before his 37-year career with Moorman Manufacturing, where he started in 1964 as a feed salesman and worked his way up to regional manager. During 23 of his years with Moorman’s, the family lived in Gering, Nebraska, where all three children attended school. In 1994, Moorman’s moved Will and Sharon to Fort Collins, Colorado, where they lived for 20 years. In 2012, Will and Sharon moved to Arizona to enjoy retirement in the land of the sun. They moved to Fellowship Square in June of 2024. Will loved Jesus, his family, especially his grands and great grands, his church, the Denver Broncos, the Denver Nuggets, the Colorado Rockies, and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Will is survived by Sharon, his wife of 65 years, son Tom (Beth Castle) Van Wyhe, daughter Lyn (Mark) House, grandsons Geoff (Steph) House, Erik (Bethany) House, Ryen (Laura) House, Cole Van Wyhe, and Dane Van Wyhe, and granddaughter Katelyn Dunn, 12 great grandchildren, sister Muriel (Bill) Plooster, and brother Marv (Lyn) Van Wyhe and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son Brad; parents Gerrit & Albertha, infant brother Willis, brothers Gerrit and Elmer; sisters Wilma, Albertha (Buff), Jan, and Joyce. A Celebration of Life will be held at Fellowship Square in Surprise, Arizona, on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 2:30 pm. Those in attendance are welcome to wear their favorite sports team attire. His legacy of faith, hard work, and love will live on in those he has touched.

Friends & Family