Gerrit Henry Vander Meiden was born on November 27, 1927, at their home near Pella, Iowa, to Albert and Jennie (Van Haaften) Vander Meiden. God called him home on December 31, 2022, in Knoxville, Iowa, at the age of 95 years.

Gerrit, who was the only son of an only son was raised and lived on the family farm his whole life. Gerrit's passion for farming showed in his time spent raising crops and animals with his father and his family! He attended Wheat Grow School, and graduated from Pella High School in 1946. His faith in God called him to stewardship and service to his family, his country, and his community. Because of that he was a founding member of Heartland Reformed Church; he served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict; he served his community as a 4-H leader, Black Oak Township trustee, and Mahaska County Sheriff reserve officer.

On April 24, 1953, he was united in marriage to Florence Esther Terpstra in Oskaloosa, Iowa. They enjoyed playing cards, traveling to the Netherlands, Sikma cousins on Vancouver Island, Canada, and to see their children in Venezuela, Burbank, California and Council Bluffs.

Gerrit was preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter Jennifer Steensland. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Florence and his five children: Linda (Greg) Steensland of Council Bluffs, Lyle (Kathy) Vander Meiden of Pella, Mark (Kathy) Vander Meiden of Oskaloosa, Marcia (Guillermo) Aguilar of Pella and Venezuela, and Keith Vander Meiden of Burbank, California. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren, with two more expected in 2023.

Family

Florence Vander Meiden

Linda (Greg) Steensland

Amy (Nick) Rickard

Tristan Steensland

Shelby Rickard

Tyler Steensland

Nikki Rickard

Kennedy Rickard

Charleigh Rickard

Lyle (Kathy) Vander Meiden

Aaron (Jaci) Vander Meiden

Hannah Vander Meiden

Ethan Vander Meiden

Bryan (Kelsi) Vander Meiden

Liam Vander Meiden

Mason Vander Meiden

Henry Vander Meiden

Lisa (Jonathan) Koonce

Ruth Koonce

Mark (Kathy) Vander Meiden

Shauna (Mark) Richardson

Alex Richardson

Lucas Richardson

Elsie Richardson

Nathan Watts

Katelynn Watts

Khloee Watts

AJ (Alisha) Vander Meiden

Paige Vander Meiden

Karter Vander Meiden

Beau Vander Meiden

John Watts

Ashley Vander Meiden

Jaley Krusemark

Cleo Fee

Marcia (Guillermo) Aguilar

Simon Aguilar

Sara Aguilar

David Aguilar

Keith Vander Meiden

Fellowship International Mission

Heartland Reformed Church

Pella American Legion Post 89