Obituary Listing

Aug 30, 2019

Violet Ruth Boot, the first-born child of Ralph G and Nellie (Van Den Berg) Kuiper, was born on a farm near Pella, Iowa, on June 17, 1932.  Violet attended the European #3 Country School and Pella Community High School, graduating with the Class of 1950.  She took classes at Central College for a time, completing all those she enjoyed,...

Aug 26, 2019

Francene (Francena) L. Schilt Poortinga was born on February 10, 1914, at Cappella aan den Ysel, South Holland, the Netherlands, the oldest daughter of Andrew Schilt and Elizabeth Verwaal Schilt.  At the age of eight Francene immigrated to the United States with her parents, brother Gerrit and sister Lena.  Her oldest brother Bertus decided to remain in the Netherlands...

Aug 18, 2019

Gary Dean Van Kooten was born October 19, 1943, to Gerrit and Durky (Lanser) Van Kooten, in Newton, Iowa.

Gary's youth was spent with his eight brothers and sisters in the Sully and Leighton areas. He attended Leighton Elementary and Pella Christian High School through ninth grade before farming with his dad full-time.

On June...

Aug 13, 2019

Esther Pauline Boot was born April 8, 1925, to Anthony G. and Pauline (Ver Ploeg) Klein, in Pella, Iowa.

Esther attended school in Pella and after two years at Pella High School, she started working at Rolscreen (now known as Pella Corp.) until she quit to take care of her mother.

On March 28, 1945,...

Aug 12, 2019

Kathleen "Kaye" Ann Hoerter was born June 15, 1939, to David and Vernie (Sanders) Horgan, in Mankato, Minnesota.  Kaye was the fourth of six children born into the Horgan family.

Kaye grew up in Stevens Point, Wisconsin and was a graduate of Maria High School. She briefly attended nursing school.

On April 15, 1961, Kaye...

Aug 12, 2019

Danelle Rus was born August 24, 1983, to Gary and Kim (Rose) Hysell, in Pella.

Danelle attended school in Knoxville and was a 2001 graduate of Knoxville High School. On April 20, 2002, she was united in marriage to Aaron Rus at the Second Reformed Church in Pella. They were blessed with three sons: Devin, Zaylor and...

Aug 10, 2019

Linda Sue Morrissey, beloved wife, mother and grandma, world traveler and champion dog trainer passed away peacefully on August 10th at the Comfort House in Pella, after a 15-year battle with cancer.

Linda was born on June 16, 1949, in Des Moines, Iowa, to George and Janice Comp. She was raised in Winterset where she met her...

Aug 8, 2019

Cynthia Annette Thomas was born May 28, 1961, to Freddie and Alice (Pitcher) Camden, in Franklin, Indiana. She passed away peacefully at her home, August 8, 2019, surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Cindy grew up in Indiana and was a 1979 graduate of Franklin High School. She went on to attend the...

Aug 6, 2019

Vincent Lensing, age 90, of Decorah, Iowa, died peacefully at Comfort House in Pella, Iowa, on Tuesday, August 6, 2019, after a short battle with cancer.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 24, 2019, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah, Iowa, with the Reverend Donald Hertges presiding over the celebration of life.  ...

Jul 24, 2019

James Peter Dahm was born September 29, 1935, to Jacob and Effie (Stursma) Dahm, in Peoria, Iowa.

Jim attended Peoria Christian Grade School and graduated from Pella Christian High School. He went on to attend Central College, graduating in 1957, and graduated from the University of Iowa College of Dentistry in 1966.

On July 29,...

Jul 24, 2019

Lawrence William Van Zante was born January 9, 1926, to Teunis W. and Sarah (Lautenbach) Van Zante, at home near Howell Station. He grew up on the farm and enjoyed farming and working in the shop.

Lawrence attended Flagler School and later graduated from Pella High School.

He met Margaret De Cook uptown on the...

Jul 14, 2019

Marilyn Marcia Slagle was born September 11, 1934, to Elmer and Bessie (Collins) Wampler, in North Lagro, Indiana.

On January 21, 1953, she was united in marriage to Everett Slagle in Lincolnville, Indiana. To this union they were blessed with three children: Steve, Deb and Cindy.

Marilyn worked for Pella Corp. for 20 years before...

Jul 13, 2019

Dorothy Jean Van Doorn was born March 4, 1938, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She was one of twelve children born to John and Katie (Slycord) Petersma.

She attended school through the eighth grade in Newton, and lived most of her life in the Pella and New Sharon areas. On September 20, 1957, Dorothy was united in marriage to...

Jul 13, 2019

Forrest David Roorda was born July 4, 1925, to Epke Gerrit and Emma Marie (Boot) Roorda, in Marion County, Iowa.

Forrest was raised in the Otley area where he attended school through the eighth grade. On December 16, 1948, he was united in marriage to Gerdena Van Hemert, at her mother's home.  Forrest and Gerdena were members...

Jul 12, 2019

Martin Donkersloot III was born August 18, 1956, in Passaic, New Jersey, to Martin and June (Walsh) Donkersloot.  Martin "Marty" was baptized at the Bethel Reformed Church in Passaic.

Marty attended school in Woodbridge, New Jersey, and in 1978, as an adult, moved to the North Jersey Developmental Center in Woodbridge.

When his parents moved...

Jul 12, 2019

Donald Eugene Jack was born February 18, 1928 to William and Hazel (Icenbice) Jack in Deep River, Iowa. We all appreciated his Irish humor! He was a giver and had a nice, calm spirit. When Don was age 14 he professed in a mission by Jelto Rewerts and Tom Patterson in Ladora, Iowa.

On September 26, 1949...

Jul 6, 2019

Marjorie Florence Gatton Blom was born on May 9, 1937, to Kelly and Beulah (Fuller) Gatton at her family's farm home near Rose Hill, Iowa.  She received her early education in the Lacey schools, and graduated from the Lacey High School. She then attended Drake University and graduated from the Iowa Methodist School of Nursing as a registered nurse....

Jul 4, 2019

Doris Jean Boer was born on July 9, 1950, to Richard and Annette (Olthoff) Kooy in Cicero, Illinois. She entered into glory on July 4, 2019, in Pella, Iowa, at age 68, after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer.

Dori and her husband, Paul, met at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and were married on May...

Jul 4, 2019

David H. Melhus passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on Thursday, July 4, 2019, in Des Moines, Iowa.  In his final moments, Dave battled a heart condition to give his family a final gift: an opportunity to say goodbye.

Dave was born in Clarion, Iowa to Patricia Marie (Peterson) and Lawrence Edward Melhus.  He was close with...

Jul 3, 2019

Lisa Renee Jansen was born August 14, 1967, to Lloyd and Arlene (Beyer) Brand.  She passed away at the Comfort House of Pella on July 3, 2019.

Lisa grew up in the Sully community and graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School with the class of 1985. She then attended the American Institute of Business in Des Moines.  Later,...