Carl Van Donselaar, son of John D. and Nellie (Wanders) Van Donselaar, was born on February 7, 1922 at his parents' home northwest of Leighton. Carl passed away on April 14, 2014 at the Comfort House in Pella at the age of 92.

Carl was baptized as an infant at Leighton Christian Reformed Church. He graduated from the eighth grade at Mead #7 country school near his home. During his youth, Carl loved life on the farm. He made profession of his faith at Leighton Christian Reformed Church as a young adult.

On February 19, 1947 Carl was united in marriage with Hendrika De Jong at her parents' farm home near Albia. They raised a family of seven children. Carl would read the Bible and pray at every meal.

Carl enjoyed farming and understood the soil, plants, weather, and animals. He said farming was his vacation. To Carl it was always a good day to work outside, whether it was twenty degrees below zero or one hundred degrees.

He had a typical farm of that era with dairy cows, Herford or Angus cattle, pigs, chickens, a few goats and once in a while a few sheep. He liked Belgian Draft horses and he trained German shepherd dogs.

Carl lived on the same farm for 70 years. In 1991 Carl and Hendrika had a farm sale and moved to Pella to "retire". However, after one year, he purchased more machinery and began farming again. He continued farming some land until he was 87 years old.

While in Pella, Carl and Hendrika were members of and faithfully attended the Berean Baptist Church. In 2004, his loving wife, Hendrika, passed away after 57 years of marriage. Carl continued to live at home. He enjoyed music, especially the hymns. He liked speaking the Dutch language and singing the Dutch Psalms. Carl stayed active by driving his pickup to the farm several times a week, and walking or working outdoors.

Carl was cared for by his family, and then Home Instead Caregivers started assisting with his care in 2012. He read many farm magazines, and enjoyed watching cattle sales and horses on RFD TV. On March 26, 2014 Carl entered Pella Regional Hospital for one week. He went to The Cottages for two weeks, before passing away at the Comfort House in Pella.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents, John D. and Nellie Van Donselaar, his brothers Albert, Lewis, and Gilbert Van Donselaar, his wife Hendrika, and a daughter, Ruth, who had Down Syndrome, and passed away in 2008.

Carl is survived by his six children and their spouses: John and Doris Van Donselaar of Pella, Norma and Bob De Vries of Monroe, Wilma and Larry Van Der Hart of Monroe, Marie and Jerry Vander Wert of Pella, James and Sheila Van Donselaar of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Janice and Larry De Zwarte of Knoxville,

Carl is survived by 27 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and his sister, Mildred Van Maanen of Pella.

Family:
John and Doris Van Donselaar - Pella, Iowa
Marc and Melissa Van Donselaar
Doug and Cindy Van Donselaar
Bruce and Candi Van Donselaar
Danny and Larissa Van Donselaar

The late Ruth Van Donselaar 1949 - 2008

Norma and Robert De Vries - Monroe, Iowa
Kevin and Emily De Vries
Brenda and Kyle Boot
Sarah De Vries

Wilma and Larry Van Der Hart - Monroe, Iowa
Brian and Jennifer Van Der Hart
Bradley and Jennifer Van Der Hart
Greg and Sarah Van Der Hart
Kyle Van Der Hart

Marie and Jerry Vander Wert - Pella, Iowa
Jaime and Collin Quinn
Kayla and Eric Spillman

Jim and Sheila Van Donselaar - Grand Rapids, Michigan
Jeremy Van Donselaar
Amy and Kevin Kuiper
Jaimy and Stefan Griess
Tony and Laura Van Donselaar
Andy Van Donselaar
Jenny Van Donselaar
Anna and Jake Andringa
Tina and Ethan Lanting
Jessica Van Donselaar
Aaron Van Donselaar
Austin Van Donselaar
Jeffrey Van Donselaar

Janice and Larry De Zwarte - Knoxville, Iowa
James and Meri De Zwarte
Jason De Zwarte

FUNERAL SERVICES

10:00 A.M., Saturday, April 19, 2014
Berean Baptist Church
Pella, Iowa

VISITATION

After 2:00 P.M., Friday, April 18, 2014
with family present 5:00-7:00 P.M.
Garden Chapel Funeral Home
Pella, Iowa

FOR THOSE DESIRING, MEMORIALS MAY BE GIVEN TO

:
Berean Baptist Church

INTERMENT

Black Oak Cemetery
Pella, Iowa

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