Gilbert Van Donselaar was born on October 30, 1915, to John and Nellie (Wanders) Van Donselaar near Prairie City, Iowa. He attended country school near Leighton, Iowa, graduating from the eighth grade. He made profession of faith at the Leighton Christian Reformed Church.

On February 27, 1941, Gilbert was united in marriage with Cornelia Groenenboom at her parents' home near Oskaloosa, Iowa. To this union four children were born: Marge, Shirley, Robert, and Peggy. They moved to a farm southeast of Pella where he lived and farmed for sixty-eight years. Cornelia died on March 1, 2001 shortly after celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.

Gilbert continued living and helping on the farm for another eight years. He was living at the Oskaloosa Care Center when he went to be with his Lord on July 4, 2012, at the age of ninety-six.

Gilbert and Cornelia spent many years traveling across the country and spent nineteen winters in Cary, Mississippi, volunteering with the Luke Society. He was also active in the Gideons, served as an elder in the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella, and was a charter member of the Covenant Reformed Church in Pella.

Those left to cherish his memory are: his four children and their spouses: Marge and Marvin Van Haaften of Pella, Shirley and Ronald De Bruin of Pella, Robert and Kathleen Van Donselaar of Pella, and Peggy and Dale Bergman of Lamont, Michigan; thirteen grandchildren; and twenty-five great-grandchildren. Of his original family Gilbert leaves one brother, Carl Van Donselaar of Pella; one sister Mildred Van Maanen of Pella; and one sister-in-law Rena Van Donselaar of Oskaloosa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Louis in infancy, Albert Van Donselaar of Oskaloosa, Lewis (Jennie) Van Donselaar of Oskaloosa; and a grandson Daniel De Bruin of Pella.

Gilbert will be remembered as a loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He had a deep love for the Lord and a great enthusiasm for life.

Gilbert's family:
Marge and Marv Van Haaften
Brenda and Doug Vos
Jessica
Brian and Jana Van Haaften
Tiffany and Reece
Melissa and Dan Sneller
Amber and Kyle

Shirley and Ron De Bruin
Tom and Michelle De Bruin
Mark and John
Jerry and Pam De Bruin
Joshua, Kristen and Kara
Steve and Kim De Bruin
Greg, Andrew, and Nicole
Sheryl and Jackson Landham
Klaire, Ava and Lorelai
The late Daniel De Bruin

Robert and Kathleen Van Donselaar
Julie and Curt Hooger
Holden, Sydney and Madeline
Amy and Chris Stoltzfus
Nickalas, Jonathan, Anneka and Nathaniel
Craig Van Donselaar

Dale and Peggy Bergman
Kimberly and David Veltman
Samuel
Laura and Eric Fynaardt
Alicia
Jeffrey Bergman

FUNERAL SERVICES

10:00 A.M. Saturday, July 7, 2012
Covenant Reformed Church
Pella, Iowa

VISITATION

Starting at noon Friday, July 6, 2012 at the Pella Garden Chapel Funeral Home with family present 5:00-7:00 P.M.

MEMORIALS

Cary Christian Center
The Gideons

INTERMENT

Black Oak Cemetery
Pella, Iowa

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