Obituary Listing

Oct 19, 2024

Max did not know a stranger. Quoting from Larry Happel's article in Central's January 2023 Civitas - "He connected with the [Central] athletes because he cared about them. Vander Pol was there for any Central student who needed a hamburger or a place to spend the night — or even a month."

It is impossible to talk...

Oct 16, 2024

Charles Hunter (1944-2024) Charles Eugene Hunter, 79, of Pella, IA, passed away at Comfort House in Pella on October 16, 2024.

He was born in Waterloo, IA, in 1944, to Mervin and Ida May Hunter. He grew up on the family farm outside of Jesup, IA, where he established a strong work ethic and love for family...

Oct 9, 2024

Joyce Rena Van Wyk was born Nov. 26, 1926, in Hawarden, Iowa, as the fifth child to Ben and Lura (Brown) Kooi. Joyce grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa with her two brothers and four sisters. The family moved to Pella in March 1944. Joyce worked and lived with her sister on the second floor at the...

Oct 4, 2024

Daniel Wayne "Hoekie" Hoekstra was born April 15, 1958, to Gerald and Ruby (Mathes) Hoekstra in Pella, Iowa.

Dan lived near Pella his whole life and attended Pella schools. His first job was in the coal mines, and he spent his entire life in the construction field doing earth moving, bulldozing, and drag lines. His passion was...

Oct 3, 2024

Daniel Jay Sorensen was born November 19, 1957, to Hans and Marla (Brouwer) Sorensen, in Primghar, Iowa.

Dan attended schools in Paullina, Iowa, and was a 1976 graduate of Paullina High School. He went on to get his degree from Northwestern College.

On June 3, 1978, Dan married Marveen Mews, his high school sweetheart,  in...

Sep 29, 2024

Elma May Beyer was born February 6,  1929, on one of her grandmother's farms in Fifield, Iowa. Elma was the middle child of Thomas J. and Corlena (Verwers) Bloodsworth,  known as "Sis."

Elma attended Pella schools. While she was in high school, her mother had a severe heart attack, so she quit school to take care of...

Sep 25, 2024

Syburn De Vries was born February 27, 1932, to Wiebe and Gertrude (Bennink) De Vries, in Peoria, Iowa.

Syburn graduated from Peoria Christian School. Following school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1953 and was honorably discharged in 1955.

On December 20, 1955, he was united in marriage to Jo Ann Van Haaften. To...

Sep 24, 2024

Jennie Renae Wilson was born January 23, 1980, in Grinnell, Iowa.

Jennie attended school in Brooklyn, Iowa, until 3rd grade, and was a 1999 graduate of Pella Community High School. Following school, Jennie enjoyed working for the Christian Opportunity Center workshop.

Jennie was baptized at St. James Lutheran Church in Victor and had her confirmation...

Sep 22, 2024

Carol Faye Fynaardt, daughter of George and Ann Zimmer, was born December 9, 1941, in Manhattan, Montana. She was a twin. She was baptized January 25, 1942, and made her Profession of Faith April 8, 1959, at Peoria Christian Reformed Church. Her family moved to Iowa when Carol was in 6th grade where she went on to graduate from...

Sep 21, 2024

Dolores Elaine Mathes was born October 27, 1938, in a country home near Galesburg, Iowa to Clifford Mathes and Grace Bertha (Kamerick) Mathes.

Clifford Mathes, being a hired man moved often, thus Dolores attended various country schools, Springfield, Springhill, and New Albany. And graduated from Knoxville High School.

Dolores met Robert when Reformed Church began...

Sep 21, 2024

Sherman Wayne Kiefaber was born January 9, 1957, to Robert and Delores (Taylor) Kiefaber, in Hannibal, Missouri. Sherman passed away at the Comfort House on September 21, 2024, in Pella, Iowa.

Sherman attended public school in Palmyra, Missouri, and graduated from high school in 1975. He worked as a mechanic for 48 years, and finished his career...

Sep 8, 2024

Stanley Jacob Schuring was born August 8, 1948, to Jacob and Arvena (Rietveld) Schuring, in Knoxville, Iowa.

His first job was a paperboy, painted with his dad, and then worked for Clover Leaf Dairy bottling milk and running a milk route. Stan was a 1966 graduate of Pella Community High School, and a 1971 graduate of Central...

Sep 2, 2024

Wanda Lou Van De Krol was born July 28, 1933, to Louis and Julia (Brand) Wanders, in New Sharon, Iowa.

On April 1, 1955, she was united in marriage to Robert Van De Krol. They met when Wanda was serving coffeetime during threshing.  To this union, they were blessed with five children. She enjoyed helping others by...

Sep 1, 2024

Norman Ray Verros the oldest child of David and Julia (Van Arkel) Verros was born on August 8, 1936, in Oskaloosa Iowa. He and his parents lived on a farm near Harvey Iowa until he was 2 years old. They then moved to a farm west of Otley, Iowa where his brother Marvin and sister Myra were born.

Aug 30, 2024

Thomas Lee Umble was born April 18, 1950, to Harold and Erma (Meritt) Umble, in Knoxville, Iowa.

Tom attended the Otley Schools. He worked collecting copper and all scrap metals, and was known as the "copper king," and the "Otley Mayor."

Tom enjoyed picking up the mail for the Otley Co-op and hung around and...

Aug 22, 2024

Cornie Ray Sneller was born July 15, 1963, to Henry and Deretha (DeGoey) Sneller, in Newton, Iowa. He moved with his family to various small towns around the area before ultimately settling in Knoxville, Iowa. His middle school and high school years were filled with football, wrestling, and acting as Treasurer for his FFA Chapter. Cornie graduated from Knoxville...

Aug 21, 2024

Henrietta Wilma Laverman age 94, passed away on August 21, 2024, at The Cottages in Pella, Iowa. She was the second daughter born to Lawrence and Wilma Henrietta (Lanser) Van Rees on June 19, 1930. She grew up on the farm and graduated from Sully Christian School and Pella Christian High School.  Henrietta received a  teaching certificate from Central...

Aug 21, 2024

Gretta Veenstra was born February 7, 1937, to Richard and Gertie (Vander Molen) Veenstra, in Taintor, Iowa. She passed away August 21, 2024, at The Cottages in Pella, Iowa, at the age of 87.

Gretta attended Peoria Christian Grade School and was a 1954 graduate of Pella Christian High School. She went on to attend Central College,...

Aug 16, 2024

Erma Joyce Van Veldhuizen, daughter of Henry and Cornelia "Kay" Van Gilst Van Veldhuizen was born September 29, 1943, at the Mahaska County Hospital.  She attended school in Lacey up to her junior year and then merged with North Mahaska for her senior year graduating in 1961.  In High school she played in band and was also a basketball...

Aug 11, 2024

Nickolas was the first-born son to Madeline and Nicholas. He was born on the morning of August 11th 2024. In June of 2024, Nickolas was diagnosed with a rare condition and his parents were told that he would not have a chance of life out of the safety of his mother's womb. His parents knew he had a chance...