Marvin Richard Meinders was born on August 8, 1942, at his family's farm home northwest of Leighton to Gilbert and Bernice (Bruxvoort) Meinders. He grew up there, attending the Black Oak Center country school through the third grade. He then attended the Pella Christian Grade School and Pella Christian High School, graduating from there in 1960.

On August 16, 1968, Marvin was united in marriage to Mary J. Vos at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella. To this union, three children were born: Ronald, Stephen, and Ruth.

Marvin was employed as a hired hand for Vernon and Marilyn De Vries for a time and also worked at the Pella Nursery and at Vermeer. He was an avid farmer and enjoyed using Oliver tractors in his farm operation. He had also been a member of the Army National Guard.

Marvin was a man who did not know a stranger. He enjoyed attending farm shows and serving on a variety of boards and organizations. He was a Crossroads Bible Institute instructor for six years. He served on the Board of the Pella Christian Grade School and as President of the Leighton Lions' Club, and he received the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award in 2006. Marvin was a member of the Oskaloosa chapter of the Gideons.

Marvin had been a member of the First Christian Reformed Church of Pella, where he served as both a deacon and an elder as well as a catechism teacher and Sunday School superintendent. He was currently a member of the Covenant Reformed Church of Pella where he had served as an elder.

Marvin died on April 30, 2014, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House. He is survived by the following: his wife, Mary J.; his son, Ron (Anabelle) Meinders; his son, Steve "Wonder" Meinders; his daughter, Ruth (Jim) De Bruin; and his grandchildren, William, Roseane, and Aaron Meinders and Sharla, Zach, Dan, and Alyson De Bruin. He is also survived by his brother Harold (Florence) Meinders of Pella, sister Kathy (Ron) Van Mersbergen Dieleman of Pella, brother Gene (Ellouise) Meinders of Pella, and sister Dorothy (Jim) De Vries of Prairie City.

He was preceded in death by his parents, by his brother Marion in infancy, and by his brother-in-law Derrell Van Mersbergen.

FUNERAL SERVICES

10:00 A.M., Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Covenant Reformed Church
Pella, Iowa

VISITATION

Visitation will begin at 12:00 noon, Monday, May 5, 2014
with family present 5:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Garden Chapel Funeral Home
Pella, Iowa

MEMORIALS

Peoria Christian School
Alzheimer's Association

FAMILY

Wife: Mary J. Meinders - Pella
Ron and Anabelle Meinders - Pella
Steve "Wonder" Meinders - Otley
Ruth and Jim De Bruin - Peoria

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