Merlin Kooistra

Merlin Dale Kooistra was born January 12, 1957, to David and Pauline (Vander Wilt) Kooistra, in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

He grew up near Sully, and was a 1976 graduate of Lynnville-Sully High School. On the Monday after graduation, he started working for Vermeer Manufacturing, which lasted 38 years, until he retired due to health issues in 2014.

On March 28, 1977, he was united in marriage to Joy Bogaards at the First Baptist Church in Pella. They were blessed with two sons: Darren and Darrell.

Merlin loved collecting toys and model tractors similar to the ones he watched his father use when he was a boy. During Tulip Time, he was always the first  in line for poffertjes and he loved the St. Mary’s fish fry every year. He enjoyed the Hy-Vee Breakfast Crew.  He also enjoyed spending time outdoors, whether it was sitting around a campfire, traveling, or hunting pheasants.  

He never missed a family event and loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Those left to cherish his memory are:

Joy Kooistra

               Darren and Jodi (Van Zee) Kooistra

                               Myah, Jase, and soon to be #3

               Darrell and Victoria (Cervellera) Kooistra

                               Kenneth, Katelyn, Kaleb

He is also survived by his mother Pauline Kooistra, his sisters: Donna and Harlan Terlouw, and Verla and Greg Hoekstra; and Joy’s siblings: June and Ken Hoksbergen, Randy and Joyce Bogaards, and Peter D. and Katherine Bogaards.

He was preceded in death by his father, David Kooistra.

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