Eli Nieuwenhuis, 91 of Delavan, died April 12, 2013, at Lakeland Health Care Center, Elkhorn.
He was born on Feb. 23, 1922, in the Netherlands, to the late Peter and Sadie (Pannakoek) Nieuwenhuis.
He married Alice DeVries on Nov. 17, 1950, at the Delavan Christian Reformed Church.
He spent his early years as a farmer in the Walworth County area. In 1967, he joined his brother Harold, in the operation of Nieuwenhuis Brothers Disposal. In later years the next generation continued the family business, as Eli continued to enjoy his customers and his work and retired at the age of 88.
He was a member of the Delavan Christian Reformed Church.
Survivors include his wife; daughter, Theresa (Don) Hiemstra; sons, Peter A. (Gail), Ronald, Eli (Char), Larry (Jean), Mel (Peggy), all of Delavan; 21 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; sisters, Dora Haak and Ann (Henry) Reyenga; and brother, Harold.
He was further preceded in death by an infant son, Peter; brothers-in-law Peter DeVries and John Haak; sister-in-law, Jean Nieuwenhuis; and infant brother, Richard.
Funeral services will be held at noon Wednesday, April 17, at the Delavan Christian Reformed Church, 850 Oak St. The Rev. Dan Roeda officiated. Visitation will be 2-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at the church.
Burial followed in Spring Grove Cemetery, Delavan.
Memorials to the Delavan Christian School or VIP Services Inc. are suggested.
Monroe Funeral Home, Delavan, assisted the family.
