Dorothy Ann Nunnikhoven was born July 14, 1934, to Dick and Alice (Vermeer) Langstraat in Mahaska County. She was baptized and later, on April 9, 1950, made profession of her faith at Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. She received her education through the 8th grade in Mahaska County rural schools.

In the spring of 1951, she met her future husband Wilbur Nunnikhoven, and on January 19, 1954, they were married at Central Reformed Church. To this union eight children were born: Gary, Douglas, Sandra, Leon, Lyle, Karla, Pamela, and Sally. Wilbur and Dorothy farmed southeast of Pella for 19 years, then purchased a farm near Leighton in 1974. They were charter members of Trinity Reformed Church in Pella. Dorothy helped with farm work, milking cows, taking care of chickens and selling the eggs. She always had a large garden, did lots of canning and freezing, and kept a very clean house! She loved jigsaw puzzles, word searches, reading fiction, embroidery, and playing cards. Over the years she did countless beautiful, counted cross-stitch pictures and often gave them as gifts. Dorothy always looked forward to the monthly meetings with her O.D.O. (Our Day Out) ladies.

As their family grew, so did the size of their gatherings. She and Wilbur loved having all their family together! Their home would be bursting at the seams to accommodate 60+ for sit down meals, massive Easter egg hunts, and Christmas Eve festivities. Summer picnics with outings to different parks around the state were also very important. Dorothy started an annual tradition of hosting pizza and bingo parties (complete with prizes) for the grandkids and later the great grandkids. Of course, the parents had to bring the kids to the party, so they also got to stay and enjoy the fun. The year two folding chairs were broken in an intense game of musical chairs, Dorothy decided not to include that game in future parties! Wilbur and Dorothy enjoyed many great vacations together, especially out west, the Netherlands and their Alaskan cruise.

In June 2017, Dorothy moved from the farm to The Cottages in Pella, where she resided until the time of her death. Dorothy went to her eternal home on November 12, 2024, at the age of 90 years.

Those left to cherish her memory are her eight children:  Gary and Sandy Nunnikhoven of Harvey, Douglas and Jayne Nunnikhoven of Pella, Sandra and Rex Bloem of Indianola, Leon Nunnikhoven of Oskaloosa, Lyle and Sharon Nunnikhoven of Oskaloosa, Karla Wyngarden of Puyallup, Washington, Pamela and David Bryan of Montezuma, Sally and Keith Foster of New Sharon; 23 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.

In addition to her husband, Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; her brother and sisters: Mabel Ryken, Lawrence Langstraat, Ralph Langstraat, Norma Nunnikhoven, Richard "Junior" Langstraat, Marilyn Kent and Raymond Langstraat; two great grandchildren: Grace Nunnikhoven and Nash Bloem; and son-in-law Doyle Wyngarden.

Samaritan's Purse