John T. Runia, 80, of Brookings, died, Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview. Funeral services are at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at The Volga Christian Reformed Church with burial to follow in Trinity Cemetery.  Visitation is from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Eidsness Funeral Chapel in Volga.  

John Tunis Runia was born April 2, 1937, to Tunis and Nellie (Faber) Runia on the family farm near Bigelow Minnesota. 

He attended country school through the eighth grade and then stayed home to help on the farm. On Nov. 20, 1957, John married Marjorie Agnes Solsma. When they were first married John worked as a farmhand in Iowa and then he helped to build SDSU Agricultural Hall in Brookings.  During this time John served his country through the United States Army Reserve.

From 1960-1964 they rented Marjorie’s grandparent’s farm near Sanborn, Iowa. In 1964, they bought a farm near Ocheyedan, Iowa, where they raised their family and successfully farmed a diversified grain and livestock operation until retiring in 2002. John and Marjorie left the farm and moved to Lake Poinsett to be close to most of their family. They enjoyed winters in Texas until 2014, when they moved to Brookings.

John’s faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior shaped the way in which he lived his life.  

He was a very devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was a member of the Ocheyedan Christian Reformed Church and later the Volga Christian Reformed Church.  John was passionate about helping others. This led him to a long relationship with Hope Haven, an organization which serves developmentally challenged people. He served on the Board of Directors for 12 years and was instrumental in the development of the handle of the Double H hitch pin and also a founding member of Hope Haven International -Wheelchairs.    Continuing his passion to help others, John and Marjorie traveled to the Dominican Republic 13 times to assist people with basic necessities of food and water.  He also served his church and community by teaching catechism and was on the elevator board.

John led his family with regular mealtime prayers and devotions. He will be remembered for that aspect as well as the leisure time spent with his family fishing, ice fishing, water-skiing, boating, playing games, and numerous family vacations.  John’s favorite snack was homegrown popcorn and it was so popular that his children sold the popcorn. Blessed be his memory.

Survivors include his wife, Marjorie Runia of Brookings: children, Jerry (Geraldine) of Estelline, Joe (Cynthia) of Lake Norden, Marlene (Keith) Schram of Brookings, Melva (Carl) Hoogland of Orange City, Iowa, and Mavis (Christopher) Newton of Canterbury, Connecticut; sisters, Tracy Kuipers of Worthington, Minnesota, Sylvia Andringa of Sanborn, Iowa, and Gertrude (Gary) Abels of Sibley, Iowa; sister-in-law, JoAnn Runia of Hamilton, Montana; 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Malinda; three sisters, Jenny, Anne and Josie; and a brother, Peter.  

Memorials may be given in John’s name to Hope Haven in Rock Valley, Iowa.