Marilyn Joyce Van Gorp was born December 21, 1935, to Robert and Henrietta (Van Wyk) Sopher. She passed away on January 24, 2024, in Pella, Iowa.

Marilyn was a 1954 graduate of Oskaloosa High School. On January 18, 1957, she was united in marriage to Verlan Van Gorp at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa.  To this union they were blessed with eight children:  Debra, Dianne, Denise, Douglas, Darlys, Danette, Daniel and Donita.  They raised their children on a farm near Leighton.

Marilyn worked for Mathew Lumber, the Oskaloosa Herald, and she was a lunch lady for Pella Christian Grade School. She loved kids and coached softball. Marilyn enjoyed watching sports, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes. She enjoyed reading books with a good cup of coffee. She was a hard worker with a great sense of humor.

Verlan and Marilyn were members of Covenant Reformed Church in Pella.

Those left to cherish her memory are her eight children: Debra Lynn (Dale) De Nooy of Pella, Dianne Sue (Roger) Sparks of Luverne, Minnesota, Denise René (Ed) Blok of Lynden, Washington, Douglas Alan  (Lisa Vis) Van Gorp of Pella, Darlys Kay (Scott) Savery of Lynden, Washington, Danette Lucille (Alan) Meinders of Leighton, Daniel Lee (Lynn Booth) Van Gorp of Racine, Wisconsin, Donita Joyce (Bob) McWard of Tucson, Arizona;  30 grandchildren: Alyssa Donahoe, Melanie Mapes, Jessica Groenendyk, Lauren De Nooy, Joelle  Riezebos, Jordan Sparks, Nathan Sparks, Nicole Schroeder, Amy Roskamp, Tim Blok, Andrew Blok, Kristen Korthuis, Dylan Blok, Megan Blok, Carissa Hondred, Aaron Van Gorp, Joshua Van Gorp, Erin Eekhoff, Ryan Savery, Justin Savery, Kayla Grace, Courtney Besteman, Jenifer Miller, Justin Meinders, Mason Van Gorp, Jacob Van Gorp, Jessa Van Gorp, Morgan Warren, Jenna Hawkins, Claire Van Stelle, and 37 great grandchildren.

Marilyn is also survived by her brothers and sisters-in-law JoAnn Sopher, Gerrit Beekhuizen, Ruth (Vernon) Ringenburg, Dorothy Van Der Pol and R. Eugene (Luana) Van Gorp.

She was preceded in death by her husband Verlan,  parents Robert and Henrietta Sopher, parents-in-law Gerrit and Sara Van Gorp, brother Melvin Sopher, sister Caryl Ann Beekhuizen, and her brothers and sisters-in-law: Marvin and Margaret Van Gorp, Lucille and Paul Van Kooten, Leona and Nick De Ruiter, Wilma and Joe Monast, Freeman and Marge Van Gorp, Marvin De Penning, Melvin VanDerPol, and Ila Joyce Van Gilst.

Marilyn will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

Pella Christian Schools
Pella IA 50219