William Leonard Stursma, the eldest of five children, was born on a farm north of Pella, on May 15, 1929, to Ryn and Maria (Simons) Stursma.

In his younger years he worked for Pella Canning Company, at which time he was called up to serve his country in the Army. He served as a medic on the front lines in Korea during that conflict. When he returned to the U.S., he married the love of his life, Hermina Van Kooten, at the Oskaloosa First Christian Reformed Church. They moved to Colorado Springs and then onto Denver where he finished his service working at Fitzsimons Army Hospital. After his discharge, Bill went back to work for Pella Canning. In 1954, Bill and Hermina moved to a farm east of Pella, where their four children Sheryl, Alan, Debra and Ronald were born. After 13 years of farm life, the family moved back to Pella and Bill went back to work for his former employer, and then on to Vermeer Manufacturing from where he retired. Not being kept busy, he went back to work for one year at the Super 8 Motel and then for 12 years at Pella Historical Society, which he really enjoyed.

Bill was baptized at the Pella Second Christian Reformed Church at a young age and made public profession of faith there at an early age. For all but three of his teen years, he was a member of Pella Second Christian Reformed Church, where he served both as deacon and elder.

He and his wife were blessed with four children, 15 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren.

Those left to cherish Bill's memory are his wife Hermina and their family:

Sherry (Rodger) Braafhart of Pella

Michelle (Darin) Wogen

Shannon Braafhart

Brett (Kaylee) Braafhart

Alan (Kathy) Stursma of Pella

Ami (Troy) Fisher

Chad (Jaclyn) Stursma

Debbie (Doug) Denburger of Oskaloosa

Ryan (Kelsey) Denburger

Matt (Kara) Denburger

Alan Denburger

Grant Denburger

Ron (Jacki) Stursma of Ottumwa

Adam (Heather) Bauer

Ashley (Kyle) Rowe

Corie (Franklin) Raymundo

Andrea (Ryan) Smith

Curt Bauer

Max Stursma

Bill is also survived by his sister Thressa Nieuwsma,  sister-in-law Jo Stursma, and brothers and sisters-in-law: Marie De Boef, Maryanne Van Kooten, Kenny (Marlene) Van Kooten, Darlene (Elmer) Kloosterman, and Elvin Van Kooten.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Ryn and Maria Stursma, his brothers: Henry (Betty) Stursma, Paul (Shirley) Stursma, Cornie Stursma, brother-in-law Gelmer Nieuwsma.

Cornerstone Church
Pella IA

Wesley Life Hospice - Pella
1742 Main St, Pella IA 50219