Henry Everett Vandeneykel

August 16, 1941 Blythe CA - August 20, 2026 Garden Grove CA

Henry’s parents were Henry and Nellie Van Den Eykel. Their first child was named Joyce and Henry was born 6 years later. They moved to Blythe CA a few years before Henry’s birth. They later moved to South Dakota when Henry was a young child.

Henry’s family moved to Orange County in 1953.

Henry’s father and a partner opened a landscaping business serving Riverside and Orange County. They eventually contracted with building contractors of new homes. They landscaped 100s of homes. As an older teenager Henry worked with his father and partner until he was asked to join the business, becoming the third partner. His duties included the maintenance of the heavy equipment, unfortunately very often late into the night so the equipment would be ready for the next day of work.

Henry married his wife, Sharon, on August 18, 1962. They were young, Henry was 21 and Sharon was 18. Henry talked her into eloping to Las Vegas. Henry was still in the landscaping business and Sharon worked for the high school she had just graduated from. Neither of them were Christians but they both believed in God.

Henry joined the California National Guard Reserves in 1963 which lasted for 6 years.

Henry and Sharon had plans to eventually buy a house and to start a family. They bought their first home in 1964 and their first child, Carol was born. Their second child, Mark was born in 1967.

Henry, over the years not only worked in landscape, but also in sales, cabinetry, irrigation controls and repair, and back flow testing. He was truly a very intelligent man capable of doing anything he put his mind to.

Who Henry was

Henry loved his wife and kids. Henry worked hard, long hours and didn’t have a lot of time to spend with family at that time but as time went on things changed for the better. Sharon became a Christian in 1969 and Henry became a Christian several years later. They eventually moved to Garden Grove and started attending Westminster Christian Assembly in 1982. Henry even did video taping of Easter and Christmas programs at the church until around the mid 90s.

Henry was a solid provider. His family never lacked. He was a good steward with money, being frugal yet generous.

Henry was outgoing and made friends easily. He’d often have a big smile.

He loved on people most often through service—helping people in many different ways. He was a talker. Whenever he was in a group of people, whether friends, or relatives, he would share a lot about subjects near an dear to him and to the others.

Henry was always ready to help his children when they became adults. They’d call him about a need and he was ready and able to help.

He’d hear about a need where someone couldn’t afford to have their car fixed, and he’d tell them to bring it over, he’d fix it, and wouldn’t accept any payment.

Henry openly taught others what he knew:

- His son Mark learned basic electronics and how to repair electronic irrigation controls from him.

- There was a fellow, Raul, that would come to Henry’s shop and they’d talk for hours. That fellow was in the irrigation business and Henry taught him how to track irrigation control wires and locate faults to ground. These are rare and desirable skills.

- There was another fellow, Bob, that also would come by the shop. Henry mentored him as well and he eventually started his own irrigation business.

The stories that bring him to life

His father owned a potato farm. Henry, at the age of 5, had the job of driving the loading truck up and down the rows in the fields. He actually stood on the seat and the truck was set in compound low to keep it at an even speed. Can you imagine a 5 year old doing this or being let to do it? Well, he did it. Hard to believe these days.

When Henry was in the national guard, he and a friend Tamara, were in a training exercise. They weren’t supposed to carry food or fuel. Nonetheless they brought coffee and and a small portable stove. They made coffee and were busy enjoying it. Next they knew a colonel was overlooking them and asked where they got the coffee. They thought they were in big trouble. Henry answered, “Over the next hill, sir.” The colonel left.

Henry loved animals, particularly dogs. And they loved him. We had several who lived long lives. They loved Henry and would lay next to him on the floor and if they were lucky, maybe on his lap.

Mark recalls that when Henry would come to his home the dogs would gravitate to him. One dog, Rex, had a very strong sense of who was good and who was bad. He loved Henry. There are others Rex did not like and time has confirmed his instinct.

His later years

He and Sharon talked about his faith during this time. Because of Henry’s limitations they started watching church programs on TV. He fully understood salvation but struggled to understand why he suffered. Sharon would pray with him and for him, trying to encourage him through these times.

In his last months, which were difficult, he remained as upbeat as he could and it truly was difficult for him. But he saw the help he was receiving and also Sharon with the family coming together. He was thankful for that.

The family is thankful to Henry for his love and contribution to them. Sharon said, “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t have the wonderful kids, grandchildren and great grandchildren we have today. I love you but miss you terribly. Because of Jesus, we will see each other again.”

Henry’s favorite song was Christ in Me, from Phil 1:21: For me, to live is Christ; and to die is gain. Henry has gained.