Dee Wassenaar
Jun 28, 2026
The journey of life for Dolores Swank began on March 22, 1931. Dee was born in a farmhouse east of Monroe, IA. She was the only child of Herman and Elizabeth (De Heer) Swank. She attended Cottage Grove Elementary school near her farm home in Monroe. Her family then purchased a farm and farm ground north of Pella. She graduated...
Carrol Bandstra
Jun 28, 2026
Carrol Ray Bandstra was born November 23, 1941, to Gerdena (Van Ryswyk) and Dick Bandstra on their farm near Searsboro. Carrol often noted that his parents chose his middle name because they believed he was “a ray of sunshine,” a fact disputed by his siblings. He grew up on the farm of his birthplace, milking cows by hand and being...
Carl Mulder
Jun 26, 2026
Carl Jay Mulder was the youngest of three sons, born February 13, 1961, to Stanley H. and Margaret (Tibboel) Mulder, in Iowa. He grew up and attended school in the Monroe, Iowa area.
Carl started his career as a mechanic for Hewitt’s Service Center in Monroe and was the first machinery hauler for The Underground where he worked for 35 years....
Alice Booze
Jun 18, 2026
Alice Jean Davis Boozé, age 95, passed away peacefully on June 18, 2026, at The Cottages in Pella, Iowa, surrounded by her loved ones.
Alice was born on October 16, 1930, in Fremont, Iowa, to Charles Emory Davis I and Edith Blanche (Brown) Davis. She was the eighth child in the family and the last surviving of her siblings.
Alice graduated from...
Joel Veenstra
Jun 6, 2026
Joel Robert Veenstra was born October 10, 1969, to Jerry and Rita Veenstra in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Joel attended Peoria Christian School, was a 1988 graduate of Pella Christian High School, and also attended Cornell College and Central College.
On July 13, 1991, he was united in marriage to Lynda Engbers. To this union they were blessed with three children: Andrew, Alex and...
Jeanne Ryun
Jun 6, 2026
Jeanne Marie Ryun was born May 8, 1963, to William Lewis and Harriet (Wallace) Ryun in Knoxville, Iowa.
Jeanne was a graduate of Pella High School and the American Institute of Business in Des Moines. She worked for Farm Bureau in Des Moines for many years before retiring in 2020.
Jeanne enjoyed reading, puzzles, and word-search, but she loved Goofy, birdwatching and...
Vicky Engstrom-Trujillo
May 31, 2026
Vicky Lynn Engstrom-Trujillo, 68, of Knoxville, Iowa, departed this earthly life for heavenly peace on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at her home in Knoxville, Iowa. She was born on February 28, 1958 in Marion County, Iowa to Linda Mae Rickabaugh and Norman Edward Engstrom. She later gained a bonus father, Robert (Jim) Rickabaugh Sr., when her mother remarried. Throughout her...
Galen Huff
May 26, 2026
Galen Harold Huff was born September 16, 1939, to Harold and Genevieve (Erickson) Huff in Nevada, Iowa.
Galen attended school in Nevada, was a 1957 graduate of Nevada High School, and a 1963 graduate of Simpson College with a B.A. in business. He was active in high school singing in choirs, playing tight end in football four years, catcher in baseball...
Phyllis Zwank
May 23, 2026
Phyllis Zwank, a dedicated educator and cherished member of her community, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2026, at Pella Regional Health Center. Born on June 15, 1944, to Bill and Velma (Brezo) Ahnen. Phyllis spent her life cultivating a love of learning and nurturing young minds, primarily through her teaching career in Alden Schools.
Phyllis’s journey in education began with...
Kjierstan Schut
May 23, 2026
Kjierstan Ann Marcia Schut, a beloved mother, daughter, sister, and cherished friend, passed away peacefully on May 23, 2026. Born on March 20, 1995, Kjierstan lived her life with an open heart and an infectious spirit, touching the lives of all who knew her.
A proud graduate of Prairie City Monroe High School’s Class of 2013, Kjierstan embarked on a path...
Mavis Vos
May 22, 2026
Mavis Vos was born September 13, 1939, to Gerrit J. and Grace (Wanders) Vande Kieft, in Tracy, Iowa.
Mavis attended Richland Country School west of Otley and was a 1958 graduate of Pella Christian High School.
On August 31, 1960, she was united in marriage to Ivan Vos at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Mavis and Ivan were married for...
Ernie De Jong
May 3, 2026
Ernest Lee “Ernie” De Jong was born November 30, 1929, to Cornelis and Goverdena (Klyn) De Jong in Monroe, Iowa.
On September 4, 1953, he was united in marriage to Jeanne Petersen, in the Methodist Church in Panora, Iowa. He was married to Jeanne for seventy years before her passing on September 4, 2023. To this union they were blessed with...
Josiah Jeffrey Ridgway
May 2, 2026
Josiah Jeffrey Ridgway was born sleeping on May 2, 2026. His name means God Heals & God gives Peace; a prayer and a reminder to us at every mention of his name.
He is survived by his parents, Matt & Hannah Ridgway, siblings Elena, Barrett, and Benjamin Ridgway. Grandparents Jeff & Connie Ridgway and Jeff & Jo Ann Altheide. Aunts and...
Annette Dop
May 2, 2026
Annette Dop was born July 7, 1938, to Henry and Johanna (De Koning) Rooda, in Albert Lea, Minnesota.
On December 7, 1956, Annette was united in marriage with Gene Dop. They made their home in Oskaloosa, Iowa for a short time before moving to Hayward, Minnesota, for Gene's banking position. After leaving Hayward, they moved to Pella. Gene and Annette lived...
Rhonda Vandenberg
May 1, 2026
Rhonda Marie (Livingston) Vandenberg, 69, of Leighton, Iowa, went to be with the Lord on May 1, 2026.
Rhonda was born on November 28, 1956, to Wilbur Dean and Kay (Sleeth) Livingston. She married Tom Vandenberg on June 7th, 2002.
Rhonda earned her LPN. She began her career working at Dr. Merrick’s office in Ottumwa, where she cared for patients for many...
Glen Miller
Apr 30, 2026
Glen Miller, born on July 30, 1951, passed away on April 30, 2026. His life journey spanned over seven decades, marked by the quiet dignity and steadfast resolve that those who knew him came to admire deeply.
Glen was a man of principle and integrity. Throughout his life, he exhibited a commitment to his values and an unwavering dedication to those...
Curt Hite
Apr 29, 2026
Lester Curtis “Curt” Hite was born January 22, 1944, to William Lester and Helen B. (Piersel) Hite, in the Mahaska County Hospital. He grew up on his family’s century farm near New Sharon.
Curt attended Elm Grove Country School through first grade and was a 1962 graduate of North Mahaska High School.
On February 4, 1963, he started working at Vermeer Manufacturing,...
Henry Schuring
Apr 23, 2026
Henry Nicklos Schuring was born on August 13, 1933, at home in the town of Fifield, Iowa. He was the fifth child out of eight born to Louis and Henrietta (Kelderman) Schuring. He weighed 11 pounds.
He attended country school through 8th grade. He then started working as a hired hand on the farm he eventually would buy and own for...
Priscilla Warner
Apr 20, 2026
Priscilla Leigh Warner was born April 8, 1947, to Colyn and Phyllis (Kussart) Garner in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She passed away at Independence Village in Pella on April 20, 2026.
Priscilla was a graduate of North Mahaska High School. During school she worked at the Iowa State Capitol as a page. Priscilla moved all over the U.S. while working for Bell Telephone...
Owen Ver Meer
Apr 14, 2026
Owen Dean Ver Meer was born December 1, 1942, to Anthony and Jeanette (Vander Wal) Ver Meer, in Mahaska County, Iowa. He lived in the Leighton area his entire life and was a graduate of Pella High School. Owen enlisted in the Iowa Air National Guard in 1960 and was honorably discharged in 1966.
On June 23, 1965, he married Esther...
