Martin Govers Verhoeven passed away peacefully in his home with his loving wife at his side on Sunday, February 3, 2019. Martin was born on October 20, 1924 in Visalia, California. He was the 3rd of the four children born to William and Tannetje Verhoeven. The family moved from the Hanford/Visalia area to Southern California in 1928. They eventually settled in Bellflower in 1936 where he attended Bellflower Christian School. At an early age a sweet, young girl named Leona Roelofsen caught his eye and his heart. Martin & Leona were married on November 2, 1945 and enjoyed over 73 years of marriage.
Martin dairied in Bellflower with his father and his brother John until Martin & John moved to Chino in 1955 with their families to start a new dairy together. In 1964 Martin & Leona built their own dairy which they operated until Martin was a couple of months short of his 90th birthday. They remained living in the house on the dairy until May of 2018.
Martin & Leona were charter members of the Chino Christian Reformed Church (later became 1st Chino United Reformed Church) where he served many terms as an elder. In 2018 they moved to Visalia, California where they enjoyed living in the Sierra Village community and were members of the Trinity United Reformed Church.
Martin is survived by his loving wife Leona; his five children, Carolyn te Velde of Bakersfield, Wesley Verhoeven of McFarland, Ronald & Beverly Verhoeven of Corcoran, Darlene & Geoffrey VandenHeuvel of Tulare, and Lori and John Van Hofwegen of Exeter; and his sister Henrietta Vander Schaaf of Ripon. Martin & Leona were blessed with 17 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchilden. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother John Verhoeven, sister Nellie Vander Pol, son-in-law Ralph te Velde, and grandson Michael te Velde.
