Doward William Sjaardema was born on August 21, 1942, in Sigourney, Iowa. At the age of three, he was welcomed into the home of William and Cora Paltzer Sjaardema and lived in Sully, Iowa, where his parents operated the grocery store. In 1953, he and his mother moved to Pella. They attended Trinity Reformed Church where he became a member and remained until the time of his death.

At the age of fifteen, Dow began his auto body repair career at Ulrich Motor. He always said that everything he knew, he learned from Kirk Fuller. He also drove truck for Van Gorp Auto Salvage hauling cars. In his spare time, you could find him in the back garage, the "Home of the Pooped Poncho", getting his 1964 Pontiac ready to drag race at Cordova and other drag strips.

On December 11, 1969, he married Marilee Grandia and became "Daddy" to her two little girls, Michele Rene and Deniece Anne. Another daughter, Krista Lyn, joined the family on October 1, 1975. In January 1971, Dow and Marilee started Dow's Auto Body in the old Hagen's Garage. The summer of 1972, Dow moved the business to his own building west of town where he did business for forty years until April of 2012, when he was diagnosed with cancer. If you went to the shop and he was missing, you could find him hanging out with the coffee guys at IntVeld's.

In his spare time, you would find Dow working on his 1956 Chevy truck which he built from the frame up. He won several trophies at car shows, but most of all he loved meeting and spending time with all his friends at these shows. Even though he was sick, he had a great time at the Bologna Nats this past summer, where he was presented the most prestigious award of all, the Club's Choice.

Dow enjoyed spending time with his family at their summer home at Lake Ponderosa, where one tradition was spending the 4th of July together watching the fireworks. His daughters will always remember singing "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" while walking down the alley after Christmas Eve Service.

Although the last ten months were difficult for Dow, he never lost his humor, positive attitude, love of life, and most of all his faith.

Those left to cherish his memory are as follows:

Wife: Marilee Grandia Sjaardema

Daughters:
Michele (Randy) Van Maaren of Pella, Iowa
Justin (Jana) Van Maaren
Jalyne Riggen
Jocie Van Maaren
Lyndsay Van Maaren (Eric Stramel, fiance')

Deniece (Bill) Hilligas of Pella, Iowa
Katie (Jesse) Rhoades
Addison Rhoades
Jordyn Rhoades
Jace Rhoades
Chris Hilligas
Braydon Niemeyer
Sierrah Hilligas

Krista (Marc) Grant of Conrad, Iowa
Kaylee Grant
Marrisa Grant

Doward is also survived by his brother-in-law Murl Grandia, one nephew, two nieces, three great nephews, three great nieces, several cousins, a special childhood friend of over sixty years Dwight Van Dusseldorp, and a host of other friends.

Doward was preceded in death by his mother, Cora Paltzer Sjaardema; his mother-in-law, Leona Grandia; his sister-in-law, Jane Grandia; and sister-in-law, Thelma Grandia

MEMORIAL SERVICE

11:00 A.M., Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Trinity Reformed Church
Pella, Iowa

VISITATION

Beginning at Noon on Monday, February 25, 2013
with family present 4:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Trinity Reformed Church
Pella, Iowa

MEMORIALS

Trinity Reformed Church
Wesley Life Hospice

FAMILY

Wife: Marilee Sjaardema - Pella, Iowa
Daughters: Michele (Randy) Van Maaren - Pella, Iowa
Deniece (Bill) Hilligas - Pella, Iowa
Krista (Marc) Grant - Conrad, Iowa

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