Obituary Listing

May 3, 2024

James Owen Barr was born July 3, 1943, to Owen and Esther (Miller) Barr, in Newton, Iowa. James passed away May 3, 2024, at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa.

James attended country elementary schools and graduated from Monroe High School. He then attended Buena Vista College where he played base ball for the BV Beavers. James...

Apr 25, 2024

Saman Sar, a resilient soul who overcame adversity and touched the lives of many, passed away on April 25, 2024. He was born on June 16, 1943, in Cambodia to Saun Sar and his wife. At a young age, tragedy struck Saman's life when he lost his beloved mother. However, he found solace and love in the arms of...

Apr 20, 2024

Beverly Jean Den Hartog was born on April 25, 1928, to Dave and Artie (Van Zee) Den Hartog in Pella, Iowa.  Beverly had many fond memories with her parents and growing up on a farm southeast of Pella.  Her dad made games including her favorite one, Chinese checkers.   She also enjoyed learning how to cook from her mother.

Apr 18, 2024

Merrill Lee Pol, the oldest of five children, was born to Marion and Alberta (Terpstra) Pol on January 6, 1953, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Merrill attended school in Otley, Pella and graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School in 1971.

On June 12, 1974, he was united in marriage to Lana Geetings in Pella. To this union they were blessed...

Apr 14, 2024

Ronald Jay Vander Linden was born November 5, 1946, to Henry and Irene (De Jong) Vander Linden, in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Ron lived in the Peoria area his entire life and attended Peoria Christian Grade School, and Pella Christian High School.

Ron served in the U.S. Army in Germany, where he was an auto mechanic. When...

Apr 12, 2024

Mary Ann Vander Werff was born March 23, 1946, to  Marcellis and Dorothy (Schafer) Dreckman, Le Mars, Iowa.

Mary attended Le Mars High School, Cedar Rapids High School, and American Institute of Business, where she met Jim Vander Werff.

On January 20, 1967, she was united in marriage to James Edwin Vander Werff, in the...

Apr 6, 2024

Esther Marie Thompson, the daughter of Lester and Opal (Sanders) Thompson, was born March 24, 1949. She graduated from Montezuma High School in 1967. Esther then attended Thompson Beauty School in Des Moines.

On June 19, 1970, Esther was united in marriage to Chuck Van Zante, at the Third Reformed Church. To this union, a daughter Holly...

Mar 30, 2024

Ernest J. Eysink was born at home January 9, 1931, to John and Johanna (De Jong) Eysink, in Sully, Iowa.

Ernest was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1952, served as a gunner in the Korean conflict in Japan, earned the rank of Corporal, and was honorably discharged in 1954.

On June 14, 1957, he...

Mar 29, 2024

Donald Francis "Guy" Blair, Jr. was born December 1, 1946, to Donald F. and Marjorie A. (Height) Blair in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He loved growing up on the family farm and being an older brother to his three younger siblings- Neil, Kelly, and Jane.

Guy met Jane Sandell his sophomore year of high school on the Ferris...

Mar 25, 2024

Donald Lee Van Wyk was born to Dick and Martha (DeKraai) Van Wyk on January 13, 1945, in rural Poweshiek County. He started kindergarten there, but later his family moved to a farm by Monroe. He finished kindergarten through fifth grade at Enterprise Country School. At age 15 he was involved in a farm accident which caused him to...

Mar 24, 2024

David Lee Parker was born July 21, 1954, to Arnold and Delores (Butche) Parker, in Knoxville, Iowa. He grew up in Knoxville and attended Northstar Elementary School.

In 1971, he was united in marriage to Peggy Van Baale. David worked as a machinist for Van Gorp manufacturing for 44 years. His family will remember him for his...

Mar 19, 2024

Ann Marie Dyvad-Pyle, 64, passed away on March 19, 2024, after a courageous over 30-year battle with multiple sclerosis.

Ann was born on May 30, 1959, in San Luis Obispo, California. She was adopted by her loving parents, Harvey and Jean (Chapin) Dyvad, of Storm Lake, Iowa. She graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1977, and...

Mar 10, 2024

William Owen Umble, born Billy Oren Umble on February 3rd, 1938, passed peacefully on to his final resting place on March 10.  William was brought into this world in the Loess Hills of Council Bluffs, his mother Vinnie and father Melvin named him Billy but there was a fire, and it destroyed his birth certificate so he was given...

Mar 9, 2024

Martin Timothy Heerema, born on September 11, 1965, to Martin Bruce and Sandy (Klein) Heerema in Pella, Iowa, peacefully departed this life on March 9, 2024 at the age of 58.

Tim, as he was fondly known, spent his formative years in Pella, where he cultivated a deep love for his community and a passion for life...

Mar 7, 2024

Gwynn Dwayne Boat was born on November 20, 1958, in Pella, Iowa, to Marion J. and Marie L. (Van Vark) Boat.

Gwynn graduated from Pella High School with the class of 1977. He also attended DMACC for Electronics. Gwen worked for Mobile Electronics and was the owner of Pella Taxi.

Gwynn took great joy in...

Mar 3, 2024

Mable LaVonne "Bonnie" Shirley was born on May 4, 1934, east of Albia, Iowa, in Monroe County. The day before departing this world, she said, "I've been chosen" and entered her eternal rest on March 3, 2024, at the age of 89 years. She was a resident of The Cottages in Pella, Iowa, since last November. A private family...

Feb 23, 2024

Margaret Joyce England Grier was born April 13, 1925, in Belle Plaine, Iowa, to Otho F. England and Margaret A. (Burnett) England. Her sister was Arlene England Dvorak and her two brothers were Ronald England and Nathan England. Joyce attended school in Belle Plaine where she graduated with the class of 1943. After high school, Joyce spent one and...

Feb 22, 2024

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...

Feb 20, 2024

Pierre Leo Paul Benoit was born March 3, 1947 in St. Timothe, Quebec, Canada to the parents of Leo and Rollande (Gagne) Benoit. He was united in marriage to Ginette Prevost in 1974 and from that marriage a son Gabriel was born.

Pierre graduated from Montreal Institute of Technology and spent a career as a machinist and...

Feb 20, 2024

Shirley Anne Van Donselaar De Bruin was the second child born to Gilbert "Bob" and Cornelia (Kay Groenenboom) Van Donselaar on December 27, 1944, at the Mahaska Hospital in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Shirley was baptized as an infant at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa.

Shirley attended Valley Country School for most of primary school and...