Nancy Swank
Oct 30, 2026
Nancy Lucille Swank was born July 31, 1941, to Barney and Carrie (Vos) Memmelaar in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Nancy grew up in Leighton and lived in the Peoria and Sully area. She was a graduate of Pella Christian High School where she played basketball.
On February 13, 1960, she was united in marriage to Ronald Swank in her parents’ home in Leighton,...
Dr. Thomas Stanley
Oct 28, 2026
Dr. Thomas A. Stanley, historian, world traveler, artisan, epicurean, entrepreneur, and gardener, died on October 28, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer. Tom was born on March 23, 1946, in Berkeley, CA, soon after his parents, Dr. Charles J. and Mary Stanley, were repatriated to America, having been imprisoned during World War II in a Japanese civilian concentration camp...
Virgie Kraayenbrink
Oct 28, 2026
Virginia Mae Overlander, the third daughter of Fred and Ada (Zoeterman) Overlander, was born on March 26, 1936, in Sioux Center, Iowa. Virgie, as she was affectionately known, attended Sioux Center schools from kindergarten through high school. After graduating, she attended Northwestern Junior College in Orange City, Iowa, for two years, where she completed her teacher training.
Virgie and Dick met...
Mary Van Gorp
Oct 27, 2026
Mary Diane Van Gorp was born August 13, 1950, to Wilbur “Bill” and Beatrice “Bea” (Vande Kieft) De Jong. Mary was baptized at Second Christian Reformed Church. She made profession of faith in 1968 at First Christian Reformed Church together with Dennis Van Gorp. Mary was a 1968 graduate of Pella Christian High School, where she found the love of...
Alex Killoren
Oct 25, 2026
Alex Eugene Killoren was born February 10, 1997, to Dennis and Amy (Riordan) Killoren in Pella, Iowa. Alex attended school in Pella and was a 2015 graduate of Pella High School. He worked as an electrician for Gritters Electric for the last three years. In the past he also worked for Dee Zee, Weilers and LDJ Manufacturing.
Alex loved spending time...
Marleen Rempe
Oct 22, 2026
Marleen Ann Rempe, 88, of rural Leighton, Iowa, lived a faith-filled life dedicated to her family and community. She was a longtime member of Ebenezer Reformed Church. She passed away October 22, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of grace, devotion, and boundless hospitality.
Born in Sibley, Iowa on October 31, 1937, Marleen was the oldest of four children born to Wilson...
Douglas Oelke
Oct 22, 2026
In Loving Memory of Douglas D. Oelke
February 7, 1936 – October 22, 2026
Doug, the son of Amy Oelke, was born February 7, 1936, in Minot, North Dakota. He graduated from Prairie Bible Institute in Alberta, Canada. He attended 1 more year of Bible training from Prairie Bible Institute before attending Bethel College in St. Paul, MN where he majored in...
Orleath Ingle
Oct 20, 2026
V. Orleath (Vogelaar) Ingle was born on June 15, 1925. She was the only child of Gary and Wilhelmina (Koelman) Vogelaar of Pella, IA. Orleath grew up in Pella and graduated from Pella High School with the Class of 1943. She attended Central College from 1943 to 1945, following in the footsteps of her parents, who were also alumni. She...
Edith Sauer
Oct 19, 2026
Edith Sauer passed away in Pella, Iowa, on October 19, 2026. Edith was born in Kiel, Germany, on February 20,1936, and immigrated to the U.S. just a few days before her 20th birthday. She spent her first years in the U.S. in DeWitt, Iowa, where she met her future husband and fellow German immigrant, Bernhard Sauer, and where she proudly...
Lucas Klyn
Oct 15, 2026
Lucas Michael Klyn; a beloved grandson, son and brother passed away on October 15, 2026. Born on September 4, 1978, to Sandra Peters Klyn and Vincent Klyn, both of Pella. Lucas spent the majority of his youth growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Luke attended Linn Marr High School where he played football and baseball and graduated in 1998. He then...
Dustin Vos
Oct 10, 2026
Dustin Levi “Bubba” Vos was born February 20, 1983, to Mark and Roni (Kinney) Vos, in Houston, Texas.
Bubba grew up in Pella and attended Pella schools. Most of his career, he worked as a welder.
Bubba is survived by his parents Mark and Roni Vos, his children: Austyn Levi Wilson, Michael Pitts, Dakota Ortiz and Colton Ortiz and grandchildren Sienna, Rubyn...
Bryce Van Der Wilt
Oct 9, 2026
Bryce Dale Van Der Wilt was born May 4, 1943, to Kenneth and Nellie (Van Manen) Van Der Wilt. Bryce graduated from Lynnville-Sully School in 1961 and attended Mechanic Trade School in Omaha Nebraska.
On September 11, 1964, he was united in marriage to Barbara J. Fraker. To this union three children were born: Marla, Monica, and Maury. After Bryce’s father...
Ralph Jaarsma
Oct 9, 2026
Ralph Jaarsma was born in Pella on September 24, 1936, to Frank and Celia (Keuning) Jaarsma. He and his older siblings, Bernace and Howard, spent many hours helping their parents at the family bakery, which had been started by their grandparents, Harmen and Bertha Jaarsma. In high school, Ralph reported on Pella High sports for the Pelladium and managed the...
JoAnn Boot
Oct 8, 2026
JoAnn Veenstra Boot was born August 29, 1937, to John and Ella (Vander Molen) Veenstra in her parents’ home west of Peoria. A highlight of her childhood was riding her pony to school with Alenna (Nieuwsma) Jansen. After graduation JoAnn worked cleaning houses and helping families with newborn babies.
On November 29, 1956, JoAnn was united in marriage to Carroll Boot...
Betty Shanks-Harsh
Oct 1, 2026
Betty Alice Shanks-Harsh was born March 23, 1931, to Fred and Vera (Pugh) Curtis in Norwood, Iowa.
On December 21, 1952, she was united in marriage to Lloyd E. Shanks in Lucas County, Iowa. To this union one daughter was born, Deborah LuAnn.
Betty and Lloyd bought the Gamble Store in Winfield, Iowa in 1962 and resided there for 7 ½ years....
Community Announcement
Sep 30, 2026
Garden Chapel and Van Dyk Duven Funeral Homes Join Together to Continue Serving the Area
Two family-owned funeral homes with deep roots in the Pella area are coming together.
Garden Chapel Funeral Home has merged with Van Dyk Duven Funeral Home, bringing two families who have spent generations caring for local families as one partnership — while continuing the same commitment to...
Marilyn Veenstra
Sep 25, 2026
Marilyn Ann (De Cook) Veenstra was born April 17, 1935, to Ernest and Bess (De Prenger) De Cook in Mahaska County, Iowa.
Marilyn attended Pleasant Grove Country School west of Leighton and was a 1953 graduate of Pella High School.
On October 12, 1955, she was united in marriage to Wilbur R. Veenstra at her parents’ home west of Leighton. To this...
Leland Braun
Sep 25, 2026
It is with our deepest sympathy to announce the passing of Leland James Braun, 83, of Prairie City, Iowa. Leland left this world and entered the almighty kingdom of heaven on 9/25/26 at 12:53 pm, quietly in his sleep surrounded by friends and family, at his home in Prairie City.
Over the years, he touched many lives with his wisdom, humor...
Hermina Stursma
Sep 13, 2026
Hermina Lucille Stursma was the fourth of seven children born August 19, 1933, to Pete and Jennie (Swank) Van Kooten, north of Lynnville, Iowa. She was baptized as a young child at the Sully Christian Reformed Church. Her parents moved west of Oskaloosa when she was a year old. She attended Brushy Street School through the fifth grade. Her parents...
Shirley Van Hal
Sep 13, 2026
Shirley La Voe Van Hal the middle daughter of Ernest and Anna (Jelsma) Van Der Kamp was born July 13, 1932.
Shirley graduated from eighth grade from Ironclad Country School on the Jasper County Line. She also graduated from Sully High School in 1950. She then went to work in the office of the Sully Cooperative Exchange Elevator. After marriage she...
