Kenneth Leroy Rindels

August 16, 1935-August 17, 2024

Kenneth Leroy Rindels of Laveen, Arizona, was called by His Savior to his heavenly home on August 17, 2024, just one day after his 89th birthday. Ken was known as a kind, dedicated, and hardworking man who cared deeply for his family, extended family and friends. Born to George and Zena Rindels in Estelline, South Dakota, he grew up on a family farm in Beamis, South Dakota along with his older brother, Al, and his two younger sisters, Marlene and Ruth. After graduating from eighth grade, he worked on his family farm. When old enough, he signed up for the Army and was stationed in Iceland for two years. He drove command vehicles for the higher ranked officers in the Army. Upon his discharge, he returned home to meet and marry his wife, Christina (VandeVoort) Rindels and worked as an insurance agent until his best friend, Al Kalsbeek, knowing his dedication and hard work ethics, offered him a job in dairy farming in Chandler, AZ. Ken jumped at the chance and in the summer of 1965 moved his wife and (then) two small children, Brian (3) and Shari (2) to a life of new opportunities. Just a few short years later, he and his wife added to their family with the birth of a third child, Sheila. Sheila was often seen trailing her dad somewhere on the dairy throughout her childhood days, and ended up helping raise heifers in her school years. Ken had found his true passion of becoming a dairyman! His career spanned several decades with multiple dairies (Certified Producers, Mesquite Dairy, Laveen Dairy and Rindels Dairy). One of his favorite parts of each day was the early morning hours watching the Arizona sunrises before tending to the cows and farm activities.

Ken was a man of deep faith. Attending church was a high priority in his life and he served many years on the council at Orangewood Christian Reformed Church. After his wife passed, he attended First CRC for a few years until moving to Sun City where he joined West Valley Fellowship. Throughout the years of raising his children, he, along with his wife, was a supporter of Christian education, sending his three children to both Christian elementary and high schools. Dedicated to this mission, his wife was the school librarian for many years, and upon her retirement, the elementary school named the library in her honor which became named “Rindels Library” going forward.

Those who knew Ken can attest to his kind heart and gentle soul. He was big and strong in stature, but gentle and kind in spirit. He dedicated himself to those he loved, often with attentive listening and non-judgmental ears. Prior to his daughter, Sheila’s passing, he enjoyed being with both of his two daughters and his son-in-law, Rob, at their home for many a weekend meal of time together. Ken’s commitment to his family was also evident to his son Brian and his wife with his attendance at all three of his grandchildren’s graduations and weddings. He and Chris enjoyed their many travels to his son’s home for holiday gatherings and often summer Arizona heat “get-aways” by traveling to the cooler state of Colorado. Even on his recent visit just this August before his passing, Brian had to be assured that would have some good “reading material” in the house, as Ken would pick up a thick biography and have it read by the end of the day while visiting.

Those who knew Ken would never doubt his love for sports, and this was evident in his attendance at his grandchildren’s sporting events, both in high school and college. Distance did not stop him from being there to watch. Those times when traveling was not an option, he would schedule his evenings around his computer watching his grandson play college basketball with a live stream, which was an added joy in the new age of technology. When those days of watching those sporting events concluded, Ken would invite his daughter, Shari over to his house, where he would prepare one of his home-cooked “comfort” meals, followed by watching his televised favorite professional and college sport teams play. If timing allowed, they might even catch time around the kitchen table playing a card game or Rummikub as a bonus to the gathering. His family looked forward to a meal he prepared, which was a treat and a way he displayed his love with his culinary talents.

Upon his retirement, Ken stayed busy doing the things he enjoyed. Ken spent several years working the dairy barn at the Arizona State Fair, helped manage his son’s rental property while becoming friends with the tenants who adored him, looked forward to visits with his relatives who would travel out to Arizona, planned late summer travels to Midwest family reunions of both his, and his wife’s VandeVoort extended gatherings, and his “standing date on his calendar with his Wednesday card group of longtime friends where he joined in for fellowship, food, and a good game of cards; always a true highlight of his week. We knew enough to not schedule anything around these Wednesdays that would keep him from his “higher priorities”.

Although our beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather and brother will continue to be missed in the many days ahead, we are grateful for the time and memories that he embedded in the hearts of his family and friends. His daughter Shari had treasured visits with her dad and shared much love and time together several times during each and every week. Ken’s son Brian and his wife, his grandchildren and great grandchildren were blessed with his presence in his last week on earth before his calling. As much as his unexpected death left us all unprepared as death often does, Ken accomplished his plan to visit the last of his great grandchildren who he had not yet met with his visit. His last day on earth was a relaxing day celebrating his 89th birthday with one of his favorite home cooked meals, a game of cards, the opening of presents and hand-drawn birthday cards from the great grandchildren. He was surrounded in the cheerful joy of family togetherness, knowing he was well-loved and honored by his family. This was truly a gift from above. God was merciful and took him swiftly into His presence on the eve of such a day. Upon his first sight of heaven and in the hands of his beloved Savior, we trust he heard the words, “well done good and faithful servant”.

In addition to his parents, Ken was preceded in death by his wife of many years, Christina Rindels, by his youngest daughter Sheila (Geiman) Rindels, by his brother Al Rindels, and by family relatives (brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws) on both sides of the extended family. What a heavenly reunion he must be having.

Ken is survived by his daughter Shari Rindels, his son Brian Rindels and wife Carolyn, by his grandson Deron Rindels and wife Emily (great-grandchildren, Colton, Grayson and Bennett), by his grandson Nathan Rindels and wife Abby (great-grandchildren, Cooper and Quinn), by his granddaughter Cassaundra (Rindels) Lawler and husband Casey (great-grandchildren Brynlee, Tate and Camryn), by his sister Marlene Visser and brother-in-law John, by his sister Ruth Rottier, and by his son-in-law Rob Geiman.

A Memorial Celebration of Ken’s life will be held on Saturday, September 21, 2024 at 10:30 in the morning at Phoenix Christian Reformed Church located at 2438 East Earll Drive, Phoenix, Arizona. All are welcome. A light lunch will follow in the fellowship hall. For those who are not able to be in attendance, a live stream will be available online at the following link below.

https://www.youtube.com/live/CbTfTF_T0tY?feature+shared

In lieu of flowers, those who wish to remember Ken in a special way may make gifts in his memory to: Phoenix Christian Grade School, 2425 North 26th St., Phoenix, AZ 85008 and designate it to the school library. Upon his wife’s retirement, the school dedicated and renamed the library “Rindels Library” in her honor for her years of service.