Obituary Listing

Oct 14, 2021

Benjamin Ray Van Dyke was born December 30, 1971, to Alvin and Milly (Van Sant) Van Dyke in Pella, Iowa.  He passed away on October 14, 2021, at Northern Mahaska Specialty Care in Oskaloosa.

Ben married Rita Kay Olson/Sherman on August 24, 1994. To this union, Darrick Ray Van Dyke was born on August 26, 1997.

Oct 11, 2021

Services for Mike McDonald, age 77, of Pella, will be held at a later date in Ripley, New York.

Mike is survived by his wife Barbara, and his family:  Michael Robert McDonald (Sandi Shuster) of Akron, Ohio, Scott Alan McDonald (Amy Parker) of Pella, two great granddaughters: Josephine Florence and Cora Grace; and his siblings: Martha (Steve)...

Sep 30, 2021

Sandra Sue Vandenberg was born July 29, 1951, the  fourth daughter of John and Harriet (Lemkuil) Vandenberg. She passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus on September 30, 2021. Sandy attended Lincoln Elementary and graduated from Pella High School and Central College. Sandy retired in 2010 from Iowa Workforce Development where she made many lifelong friends. Sandy loved music...

Sep 30, 2021

Sean Eric Gerdes was born September 13, 1973, son of Stan and Sonja (Oldenburger) Gerdes.

Sean grew up in the Waterloo area, graduated from West High School, and Hawkeye Community College.

Sean was an artistic soul, who was extremely gifted. He loved to paint, draw, and played many instruments. He participated in marching band and...

Sep 21, 2021

Chester Lee Mathes was born December 9, 1944, to Lloyd and Bessie Mae (Bogaards) Mathes in Otley, Iowa.

Chet attended Greely Grade School and graduated from Oskaloosa High School in 1963.  He married Linda Hummel in November 1965 in Pella, Iowa and they were blessed with two children: Brenda and Brian; they later divorced. In December 1986,...

Sep 20, 2021

James Lee Van Engelenhoven was born September 8, 1943, to Everett J. and Jeanette (Vander Linden) Van Engelenhoven, in Mahaska County, Iowa. He attended school in Oskaloosa and graduated Oskaloosa High School in 1961.

On June 16, 1965, he was united in marriage to Carol Ver Meer at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. To this...

Sep 19, 2021

Stanley Evan Harms was born February 5, 1948, to Victor and Lenora (Jantz) Harms, in Newton, Kansas.  He grew up on a farm in Kansas and was a 1966 graduate of Goessel High School.

After moving to Pella, Stan owned and operated Stan's Drywall since 1969. Stan loved Pella and was an avid Pella Dutch sports fan....

Sep 16, 2021

Lloyd Henry Brand was born May 29, 1932, to Jacob and Mabel (Renaud) Brand. He passed away at Park Centre in Newton on September 16, 2021.

On January 1, 1952, he was united in marriage to Arlene Beyer in The Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. To this union they were blessed with three children: Gale, Dale,...

Sep 9, 2021

Raymond Loran Buseman was born September 16, 1932, in Fern, Iowa, to Henry and Fanny (Fekkers) Buseman.

Ray grew up in the Parkersburg area, and attended Parkersburg High School. On March 25, 1955, he was united in marriage to Javone Schoneman, in the Bethel Reformed Church of rural Aplington, Iowa. To this union, they were blessed with...

Sep 7, 2021

Paul Raymond Davids was born October 26, 1950, to Raymond and Arline (Gilcrist) Davids, in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Paul was a 1970 graduate of Price Laboratory School. He went on to Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa, where he graduated in 1975, majoring in industrial arts and minoring in music.

On June 30, 1979, he...

Sep 4, 2021

Carl Dean Russell was born December 17, 1935, to Ralph and Hilda (Van Brogen) Russell, in Pella, Iowa. He attended Pella Community Schools.

On April 7, 1952, he was united in marriage to Norma Jean Vander Horst. To this marriage they were blessed with three sons: Daniel Lloyd, Thomas Glen, and Larry Alan. Carl and Norma were...

Sep 3, 2021

LouAnn Schuring was born August 31, 1937, to Forrest and Viola (DeWinter) Butler, in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

LouAnn attended Sandridge Country School in her earlier years and graduated high school in Pella with the Class of 1956. She lived with her parents on the farm until she was united in marriage to Art Schuring on June 1, 1956,...

Sep 1, 2021

Marion Wayne Terpstra was born February 10, 1944, to Cecil and Elsie (Van Oonen) Terpstra. Marion attended country school in his early years, and was a 1962 graduate of Pella Community High School.

On August 6, 1965, he was united in marriage to Nancy Jansen in Sully, Iowa. To this union, they were blessed with two children:...

Sep 1, 2021

Henry Allen Rooda was born October 16, 1943, to Andrew and Clara (Van Dyk) Rooda, in Friesland, the Netherlands. His family immigrated to the U.S. in October 1948.

Hank attended country schools near Pella. He worked for Grootveld Oil Co. for many years. On June 24, 1993, he was united in marriage to Donna Van Zante. The...

Aug 31, 2021

Johannes "Joe" Schutte was born December 28, 1932, to Albertus and Petronella (Van Harten) Schutte, in Zuidlaren, Drente, The Netherlands.  Joe grew up there and survived the German occupation. With little future prospects in his homeland, he immigrated, via the ship Nieuw Amsterdam II, to the United States on December 20, 1950, at the age of 17.  He first...

Aug 26, 2021

Rodney Alan Meyer was born January 19, 1949, to Gerald and Alice (Swalwell) Meyer, and grew up on the family farm near Newton, Iowa.

Rod attended Newton High School and graduated in 1967. He then went on to Muscatine Jr. College and the Southern Illinois University before enlisting in the U.S. Navy, where he proudly served for...

Aug 24, 2021

Glen John Vander Werf was born February 5, 1946, to John and Erma (Koopmans) Vander Werf. Known as "Hubcap" from an early age, Glen spent almost his entire life in Pella.

Glen attended Pella High and graduated in 1964. He went on to attend Northwest Missouri State and graduated in 1968 with a degree in Mathematics. He...

Aug 23, 2021

Etta Joyce Huisman was born March 26, 1938, to Arie and Alice (Booy) Huisman, in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Joyce was a graduate of Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She attended the University of Minnesota and Central College, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree. She received her Master's degree from the University of Iowa, and her...

Aug 17, 2021

Erma Jean Vos was born August 12, 1935, to Cornie and Henrietta (Swank) Vos, at their home north of Sully.

Erma attended the American School of Correspondence, Reformed Bible College, University of New Mexico, Nova University, Oglala Lakota College in South Dakota, and the University of South Dakota, studying special education and early childhood education. She was...

Aug 13, 2021

John Mark DeCook was a loving family man whose focus in life was to pass on his faith and caregiving spirit to his family.  He learned "Jesus Loves Me" early on from his parents, John O and Aletta Rus DeCook and it remained in his memory until the end of his earthly journey. Raised on a farm in Mahaska...