Riaan Van Dyk

Anthony “Riaan” Van Dyk passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, in Nevada, Missouri. He was born on June 3, 1977, in Benoni, Transvaal Province, South Africa, to Linda (Smith) Richardson and Anthony Louis Van Dyk, and was the first of two children born to their marriage.

Riaan was very active in sports and activities throughout his youth, with his proudest accomplishments being in rugby and karate. He was known as a kind and gentle friend to everyone he met, with a unique sense of humor that could charm his way out of almost any situation. Precise, detail-oriented, and a natural storyteller, Riaan loved to talk and could recount hour-long stories from forty years ago as if they had just happened yesterday.

In 1993, Riaan came to the United States on a karate scholarship. He went on to become a highly respected karate instructor for several decades in many surrounding communities, most notably in El Dorado Springs, Missouri, before retiring in 2022. Riaan took immense pride in his students and cherished the memories made at karate competitions alongside them and their families. His accomplishments in karate were numerous and remarkable. He competed for multiple sponsored teams, including Paul Mitchell; was selected to compete in the USA Olympics; earned seven world championship titles; was inducted into the Karate World Hall of Fame; and received countless gold and silver medals throughout his competitive career.

Riaan wore many hats throughout his working life and took pride in all he did. He especially enjoyed construction and carpentry work and was always eager to point out homes he helped build or cabinets he installed. He attended Arkansas State University and later worked as a truck driver for several years before leaving the field in 2014. Riaan also had a long and meaningful career in healthcare, working with individuals with developmental disabilities, mental health needs, and memory care challenges. In 2023, he proudly earned his Certified Nursing Assistant certification, followed by his phlebotomy certification from Midwest Technical Institute in Springfield, Missouri, in 2024. He planned to attend Crowder College in the fall of 2026 to pursue nursing school and become a Licensed Practical Nurse. Riaan was excited about an upcoming position in the Behavioral Health Unit at NRMC and often spoke of continuing there after completing nursing school in 2027. He was also attending Ozarks Technical College in Springfield, Missouri, where he was inducted into the honor society with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

Riaan is survived by his wife, Ashlee (Hochstedler) Van Dyk, of the home; his mother, Linda Richardson (Michael); his sister, Yolandie Linsenmayer (Neil); his beloved children, Alexis Van Dyk (Ben Welborn), Lotus Van Dyk, Anthony “Blaze” Van Dyk, and Krager Van Dyk; and his stepchildren, Rylee Harper and Colton Harper. He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren, Carter Prentice, Sophie Herbst, Wilhelmina Welborn, Skylar Welborn, Ella Welborn, Brenli Welborn, Briar Welborn, and Becklynn Welborn, as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Riaan was preceded in death by his father, Anthony Louis Van Dyk; his youngest sibling, “Baby Van Dyk”; both sets of grandparents; his sweet babies born sleeping, and many family members dear to him.

Services for Riaan will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. at Ferry Funeral Home, with Pastor Terry Mosher officiating. Private interment will take place at a later date. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 2, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions are suggested in Riaan’s name to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, c/o Ferry Funeral Home.

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