Alfred Van Maaren

Alfred Lee Van Maaren was the youngest of ten children born to Gerrit Cornelius “G.C.” and Sarah (Boender) Van Maaren, on November 7, 1936,  in Newton, Iowa.  He passed away at the Cottages in Pella on July 11, 2018.

Alfred attended elementary school in Newton and Pella and graduated from Pella Community High School.

On August 7, 1957, he was united in marriage to Carolyn Roorda in the Trinity Reformed Church parsonage in Pella.  To this union they were blessed with two children:  Sandra and Randol.

Known for being a hard worker, Alfred was truly a jack-of-all-trades.  A talented woodworker, he was blessed with an admirable ability to seemingly create anything and fix anything. Alfred began full-time employment as a plumber and worked for a time at D & D Pump and then Culligan.  He was an experimental technician for Vermeer Manufacturing for 26 years and retired in November of 1998.

A life-long outdoor enthusiast, Alfred loved gardening and shared his produce with friends and family.  He also spent many summer days camping and he and Carolyn made  a point to take each grandchild camping individually each year.  A hunter for many years, Alfred used to lead his grandson and a group of his friends on hunting trips. He loved fishing and a favorite spot was along the trout streams near Decorah. Alfred also took pride in the opportunity to teach his great-grandchildren to fish.

He was a member for many years at Third Reformed Church in Pella where he was a volunteer and went on two mission trips. 

Alfred is survived by his wife Carolyn, of 60 years, and their family:

Sandra and Glen Fynaardt, New Sharon

               Michelle and Nick De Haan

                               Micah, Rebecca, Olivia

               Melinda and Brian Vos

                               Ellie, Judah

               The late Brian Fynaardt

Randy and Michele Van Maaren, Pella

               Justin and Jana Van Maaren

                              Jalyne Riggen

                               Jocie, Jayde, Jentry Van Maaren

               Lyndsay and Eric Stramel

He is also survived by his sister-in-law Lorena Vos of Pella, brother-in-law Elmer and Dottie Roorda of Pella, and many nieces and nephews.

Alfred was preceded in death by his parents G.C. and Sarah Van Maaren, his grandson Brian Fynaardt, his siblings and spouses:  Cornie and Nellie Van Maaren, Paul and Nellie Van Maaren, John and Helen Van Maaren, Hilda and Art Rus, Elmer and Anna Van Maaren, Gerald (Jr.) and Imogene Van Maaren, Esther and Henry Dykstra, Beulah and Donald Van Haalen and Sara Mae Van Maaren. He was also preceded in death by his parents-in-law Robert E. and Dora Roorda, his sister-in-law Tena and Francis Vos, and brother-in-law Kenneth Vos.

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