Roy Arthur Van Horn

Roy Athur Van Horn, 104, of Aitkin, passed away Saturday, July 25, 2026 at his home.  Roy was born May 12, 1922 in Mission to Jesse and Hettie (Amos) Van Horn, the first of 9 children.  He attended Walker School in Mission Township, grade 1 through 8.  Because of the distance to school, Roy stayed with his grandparents during the winter months.  His grandmother took him to school with the horse and sled.  After finishing the eighth grade, Roy helped his dad cut and sell pulp wood.  One fall he went to South Dakota to work in the harvest fields.  Roy grew up during the great depression, money and food were scarce.  Roy enlisted in the Army on December 1942 at Fort Snelling.  He had basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.  He then was sent to Algiers, Africa, from Africa to Sicily.  Roy was in Colonel William Darby’s Rangers, 1st Scout of the 1st Ranger Division.  He was captured by the Germans in Italy in January 1944.  He spent 15 months in Stalag II B, near the Poland Border at what is known today as Iran.  He was liberated in May 1945.  On coming back to the US, he received a 30 day furlough, the 1st since he went to Basic Training.  He got off the train in Brainerd since no one knew he was coming.  Roy began hitch hiking.  The mail carrier picked him up and took him home.  The same mail carrier that had delivered the telegrams from the War Department to his parents, telling them their son was missing in action and later that he was a prisoner of the Germans.  Roy received an Honorable Discharge on October 18, 1945.  He worked for Woodland Container, better known as the box factory, for 33 years.  Roy was united in marriage to Virginia Nix November 3, 1950.  Together, they had 1 daughter and 4 sons.  Roy and Virginia had a small farm.  Roy retired from Woodland Container in May, 1984.  He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, The Lakes Region Chapter of MN Ex POW’s, V.F.W, American Legion and V.F.W. Color Guard. 

Roy is preceded in death by his parents; 3 brothers, 4 sisters; son-in-law, 1 granddaughter; 1 great granddaughter.

Roy is survived by his loving wife, Virginia; daughter, Lavonne Jackson of Duluth; 4 sons, Jeffrey (Samantha) Van Horn of Aitkin, David (Sherri) Van Horn of Ham Lake, Russell (Margaret) Van Horn of San Diego, CA and Lyle (Michelle) Van Horn of Elk River; grandchildren, Brian, Kevin and Daniel Jackson, Diane Meyer, Jesse, Kirk and Robin Van Horn, Heather and Amy Van Horn and Gwen Johnson; 5 step grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; brother, Jerry (Lucy) Van Horn; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be Thursday, July 30 from 4-6 PM in Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home and will continue Friday, July 31 from Noon until the 1 PM Memorial Service in St. John’s Lutheran Church, Aitkin with Pastor Ben Hollingsead officiating.  Military Honors will be provided by Aitkin American Legion Post #86 and Aitkin V.F.W. Post #1727.  Interment will be in Spencer Cemetery, Spencer Township.  To leave a message of condolence, please visit:  www.srtfuneral.com.  Arrangements are with Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Aitkin.

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