Call Now Button
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home

Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home

Plymouth, IN

Have Questions?
Call Us Now Available 24/7: (574) 936-2829
  • Home
  • Our Services
    • A Death Has Occurred
    • Burial Packages
    • Cremation Services
    • General Price List
    • Veterans
    • Planning Ahead
    • Planning Checklist
    • Plan Online Now
    • Pre-Planning Events
    • Our Traditions: Memorial Cookbook
    • Make a Payment
  • About Us
    • Welcome
    • Our History
    • Our Staff
    • Business Hours
    • Our Facilities
    • Employment Opportunities
  • Obituaries
    • Obituary Listing
    • Obituary Guidelines
    • Obituary Template
  • The Remembrance Centre
    • Urns
    • Keepsakes
    • Jewelry
    • Gifts
    • Flowers
    • Monuments
  • Resources
    • FEMA Covid-19 Funeral Assistance
    • LendingUSA
    • FAQ
    • Area Cemeteries
    • Planning Checklist
    • Celebration of Life
    • Resource Kit
    • Forms
  • Contact Us

Harold Steven Van Vactor

November 30, 1927 - September 9, 2009

Harold Stephen Van Vactor, 81, moved on with our Lord, Jesus Christ. He passed away at his home following an extended illness in the morning hours of Wednesday, September 9, 2009.
Harold was born on November 30, 1927 in Plymouth, IN to Russell and Eva Lena (McCloud) Van Vactor, and was a lifelong Plymouth resident.
He is survived by his wife, Marjorie Hutchings Van Vactor, sisters Martha Mann and Ruth (Dean) Kinney, sons David R. (Chris) Van Vactor and Stephen J. (Maria) Van Vactor, daughters Barbara V. (David) Miller and Patricia L. (Edward) Wright.
Harold is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 40 nieces and nephews, and 10 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a daughter Judy, and son Gary.
An excellent athlete at Plymouth High School, he turned down a track scholarship to Purdue in order to carry on the family farming operations.
Harold began his farming career along side his father, and grew hay, wheat, corn and raised livestock.
On June 12, 1949, Harold married Marjorie Lillian Hutchings (Mudge) in the Plymouth Methodist Church, where they continued to be lifelong active members. On June 12, 2009, Harold and Mudge celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary with an open house at their home.
In the mid 1950’s Harold and Mudge expanded their farming operation to include the cultivation of vegetables. They grew cucumbers for Heinz and expanded the operations by growing tomatoes and other vegetables for Campbell’s Soup and Del Monte. They were one of the first operations in the county to employ migrant workers. By the 1970’s Harold and his family were farming approximately 2200 acres. In addition to the homestead, they farmed leased property where the Airport, Hospital, Pine Creek Plaza, and many of the city’s housing developments now stand. In addition to selling vegetables to major corporations, the family was well known in the area for selling produce to local grocery stores, at the South Bend farmers market, and their roadside vegetable stand.
Whenever Harold and the family traveled around the country, his “vacation pictures” would always include other farmers’ fields, irrigations systems, and farming equipment.
In addition to farming, Harold also worked at Ball Band in the early years of his marriage, and like his father, drove a school bus for many years. In 1976 he and Mudge also established H & M Van Vactor Trucking, and operated that business in addition to farming, until selling that business to Stephen and Patricia in the mid 90’s.
In the mid 90’s Harold turned over the ownership of Van Vactor Farms, Inc. to his four children, and his direction and guidance was instrumental in the continuation of farming operations and the real estate development through Vanco Development, LLC.
In 2007, Harold and the family were informed that they met the requirements for the Hoosier Homestead Award, an honor bestowed by the State of Indiana Department of Agriculture for family farms owned by the same family for over 100 years.
Always community minded, Harold served on the board of the USDA Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Services agency, was a board member of the Marshall County Co-op, served on the Marshall County Plan Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals. His longtime membership in the Lion’s Club was among his favorite activities, traveling to Mexico on several occasions to distribute eyeglasses to those in need.
Longtime supporters of Plymouth athletics, he and Mudge attended nearly all home basketball games. He will be missed by all for his gentle demeanor, dedication to family, a warm smile, conservative values, and his giving nature.
Friends may call from 4 – 8 p.m. Friday, September 11th in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 12th in the First United Methodist Church, 400 N. Michigan St, Plymouth with visitation one hour prior to the service. Rev. Dr. Dean Fager, pastor will officiate.
Burial will follow in the New Oakhill Cemetery, Plymouth.
Memorial gifts may be made to the First United Methodist Church or the Plymouth Fireman’s Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o the Marshall County Community Foundation, 2701 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, Indiana 46563.

Offer Condolence

Print

Reader Interactions

Leave Your Condolence Cancel reply

Please share your message of condolence with the family, It will be visible to the public but your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search Obituary

Obituary Guidelines

First, locate the condolence form to the left and below any other condolences. Then you will need to fill out some basic information prior to typing your message. (We will not share your e-mail address with anyone). Once you are finished typing your message, simply click the submit condolence button. It may take up to 24 hours for your message to appear. We also provide a Tell-A-Friend feature located at the top of this column. This form allows you to send the obituary to a friend. This is particularly helpful to someone who may live out of town.

Share This Obituary

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Footer

funeral homes Plymouth IN

No Hidden Costs Guarantee

Funeral and Cremation costs can be very confusing. Oftentimes other funeral & cremation providers quote a low price, but they do not give you the complete costs.

Read More

Local Weather

Plymouth, Indiana
March 27, 2023, 4:47 pm
Mostly cloudy
Mostly cloudy
44°F
sunrise: 7:37 am
sunset: 8:04 pm
 

Follow Us On

Facebook

Free Emergency Life Saving App

Worry Free Transaction

Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home
1100 N Michigan St Plymouth, IN 46563
(574) 936-2829

funeral homes South Bend IN

Satisfaction Guarantee

Our staff is courteous and understanding. Our services are handled with dignity and respect. If you are not completely satisfied with any of our services

Read More

We Are Members Of

Leave Us a Review

Click Here

© 2020 Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home
About Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home | Blog | Site Map  |  Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Use  |  Website by FRM Websites