John Edward Van Woerkom was born on February 8, 1931. The first-born son of Bastian and Gertie (Vande Wall) Van Woerkom, he was named after the grandfather he never knew who drowned in the Skunk River near Lynnville, Iowa. He was baptized and made profession of faith at First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa.

When John went to school, he could not speak English because the only language he heard spoken at home was Dutch. He learned very quickly! During his education, John attended seven schools in eight years. When he completed 8th grade, he went to get a job at the age of 14. He was hired as a farm hand for $5 a day.

John went into the service in 1951, served as an M.P. in Austria, achieved the rank of Corporal, and was honorably discharged. When he came home, he married the love of his life, Louise Joan Newendorp, on Thursday, November 17, 1953. The newlyweds made their home east of Oskaloosa, and John worked for the Gray brothers as a farm hand. Following his employment, John farmed for nearly 40 years in Eddyville, Rose Hill, and west of Pella. His life calling was to farm, an occupation he loved greatly. In retirement, John spent his time working alongside his youngest son.

John and Louise were blessed with six children: Bonnie, Jan, Karen & Kenny, and Jay & Jon, 19 grandchildren who knew him as Popo and Grandpa, and 43 great grandchildren who called him “Silly Papa”, for a family total of 90! What a wonderful legacy! John was so proud of his family!

John enjoyed sports, especially fast pitch softball, when he was young. It was his delight to encourage and coach the young guys at First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. He found joy in watching his sons and daughters play on many teams in Oskaloosa. John and Louise rarely missed an activity that the grandchildren participated in, and John even made it to watch some great grands play last summer. He was always a great cheerleader for his family, and also for any Pella Christian team. Christian education was highly valued by John and Louise for their family. He served on several boards for the school and the church in both Pella and Oskaloosa.

John was pretty adamant about staying in his own home. As a family, we are greatly blessed that we could honor that. Time spent around the table visiting over coffeetime or playing games was always a special, and now treasured, time at the Van Woerkom house.

John’s usual “goodbye” to his family and friends was

“zachtjes aan” (go slow) when they left the house.

John’s faith was an important part of his life, and he lived it daily in the way he treated other people. His welcoming personality drew others to him, and he never knew a stranger.

Zachtjes aan, Dad

John’s family:

Bonnie and Warren Van Wyngarden, Peoria

   Cory and Sara Van Wyngarden

      Roan, Ella, Emme

   Will and Allison Van Wyngarden

      Kaden, Kirby, Kynlee, Kaiya

   Mark and Jessica Van Wyngarden

      Ben, Brady, Beau, Brock

   Alex and Jentri Van Wyngarden

      Ada, Aaron, Alyza, Alivia, Asa

Jan and Kevin Laverman, Sully

   Ashley and Dan Drusch

      Zoey Louise

   Clarissa Laverman

   Jared Laverman

Karen and Don Branderhorst, Otley

   Katie and Matthew Miller

      Kellan, Kensington

   Stacie and Bret Fynaardt

      Hudson, Eleanor

   Lindsey and Nathan Wolff

      Blakely, Delaney

Ken and Janiece (Meulpolder) Van Woerkom, Pella

   Mandy and Chad Klyn

      Grant, Norah, Amelia

   Mindy and Trevor Jones

      Lucy, Gwen, Ruby

   Kalie and Devin Dennis

   Thomas and Angie Van Woerkom

      Parker, Cooper, Hadley

Jay and Jill (Hougham) Van Woerkom, Pella

   Kendall and Jesse Ried

      Wyatt

Jon and Glenda (Van Wyk) Van Woerkom, Pella

   Nicole and Jon Yoder

      Mason, Bennett, Ellie

   Emily and Kurt Boender

      Jackson, Jayden, Lane

   Taylor and William Vande Voort

      Everly, Theo, Sloan, Lucy

   Brooke Van Woerkom

John is also survived by his sisters-in-law Rose Van Woerkom and Karen Newendorp.

John was preceded in death by his wife Louise, his parents Bastian and Gertie Van Woerkom, parents-in-law Walter and Marie Newendorp, his siblings Sylvia (Bill) Quick, Larry Van Woerkom, and Louise’s siblings Wilbur (Gladys) Newendorp, Beulah (Dormand) Arkema, Dorthea (Dwight) Wanders, and John Newendorp.

Memorials may be given to Hospice of Pella or Pella Christian Schools.