Obituary Listing

Dec 20, 2024

John Maurice De Haan was born August 19, 1945, to Morris and Catherine (Verkerk) De Haan, in Amsterdam, Netherlands. After his family emigrated to the United States, John spent most of his life in Pella, Iowa, only briefly living in California. John graduated from Pella Christian High School in 1963. He then attended Northrop Institute of Technology in Inglewood,...

Dec 18, 2024

Mary Ann Stiles was born January 1, 1933, to Frank and Gertie (Smit) Temple, in Grundy Center, Iowa. She passed away on December 18, at The Cottages in Pella, Iowa.

Mary Ann graduated from Floyd High School in 1952. She married Dewey C. Bennett in the Howardville Wesleyan Church on June 27, 1953. To this union they...

Dec 15, 2024

Kurt Alan Kettler was born June 11, 1956, to Marvin and Annabelle (Arink) Kettler, in Clinton, Iowa.

He attended schools in Fulton, Illinois, and graduated with the class of 1974.

On August 13, 1976, Kurt married his high school sweetheart Marla Mensch, in the Fulton Presbyterian Church. To this union they were blessed with two...

Dec 14, 2024

Jill Christine Van Dyke was born June 28, 1973, to Roger and Jean (Kruseman) Van Der Kamp in Newton, Iowa.

Jill was a 1991 graduate of Lynnville-Sully High School and attended Des Moines Area Community College studying to become a paralegal.

Jill met Gerry Van Dyke through his sister and on September 25, 1993, they...

Dec 12, 2024

Esther Marie Elscott was born September 19, 1926, to Henry and Lena (Dunink) Mol, the second of two daughters.

Esther attended Granville Country School and was a 1943 graduate of Pella High School. She worked at Pella Corp and later the Overall Factory. On January 22, 1947, Esther was united in marriage with Carroll Vernon Elscott, at...

Nov 30, 2024

Margarete (Peggy) O'Neil was born on June 27, 1946, to Otto and Maria Greiner in Mannheim, Germany and grew up with her older sister Maria and her younger brother Hans.  She lived there until moving to the United States in October of 1967 after marrying her first husband.  After living in Cleveland, Ohio for many years, life led her...

Nov 29, 2024

Gilbert Van Maanen was born September 26, 1937, the son of Teunis and Rika (Fortuin) Van Maanen, southeast of Sully, Iowa, and later moved with his family southeast of Lynnville.

Gilbert attended Case Country School through the 8th grade and helped on the family farm. He proudly served six years in the Army National Guard and was...

Nov 29, 2024

Marcella Ruth Bruinekool age 82, formerly of Oskaloosa, passed away peacefully with her family present at Bloomfield Care Center on November 29, 2024. She was born November 6, 1942, in Pella, Iowa, to Delman and Lucille (Kuiper) Van Zante. Marcie was a graduate of Lynnville-Sully High School.

Marcie married Dwayne Bruinekool on December 27, 1960. They resided...

Nov 29, 2024

Willeda Rose Van Rheenen was born on August 12, 1942, in the Mahaska County Hospital, the third of five daughters born to William and Angeline Van Rheenen.  When she was young, she learned the value of hard work and kept that ethic for the rest of her life. Willeda and her older sister Aleatha helped their father William with...

Nov 29, 2024

Ellen Marie Heiting, beloved wife, sister, mother, Grammie, Great Grammie, and loyal friend, passed away on November 29, 2024, at the age of 77. Ellen was born August 27, 1947, in Winona, Minnesota. The oldest daughter of Margaret (Marge) and Edward (Ed) Casper, she was the second of five children. She attended Cotter High School, Winona State College, Winona...

Nov 23, 2024

Eileen Joyce De Ruiter Holmes was born July 5, 1940, the second child to Reuben and Florence (De Haan) Thomassen in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Growing up on a farm near Leighton, Iowa, Eileen would share stories of her many antics, like riding cows instead of horses. She attended a country school where she had fond memories of playing...

Nov 20, 2024

Joyce Ann Mattox was born September 7, 1953, to Jerry Richard and Dora Louise (Palmer) Byers, in Ottumwa, Iowa.

Joyce attended Oskaloosa schools until Middle School and then attended Pella Community Schools where she graduated in 1971.

On October 7, 1972, she was united in marriage to Randy Mattox, and later divorced. From this union...

Nov 18, 2024

A life remembered…..

Diane Lou Vande Steeg was born September 15th, 1934, in Spencer, IA. to John and Sibyl Taylor Mattlin. Diane graduated from Spencer High School and Northwestern Junior College in Orange City, IA.

On December 28th, 1954, Diane Lou Mattlin was united in marriage to John M. Vande Steeg and are the proud...

Nov 17, 2024

Bruce Allan Willemsen was born June 28, 1970, to Elmer and Donna (Van Zante) Willemsen, in Knoxville, Iowa. He died of heart complications on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines.

Bruce attended Otley School and was a 1988 graduate of Pella High School. He was a member of County Line 4-H and served...

Nov 14, 2024

Geneva June Rozendaal, age 96, of Pella was embraced in the arms of her Lord on November 14, 2024.

June Rozendaal was born on June 20, 1928, on a farm near Lynnville, Iowa. She was the sixth of twelve children of Oney and Katie (Bruxvoort) Arkema. June was raised on the farm and graduated from Sully Christian...

Nov 12, 2024

Elmer Jay Vos was born January 4, 1937, in Des Moines, Iowa. He lived in several children's homes, prior to his adoption at age five, by Jacob and Johanna (Kolenbrander) Vos. He moved to the family farm eight miles southwest of New Sharon.

Elmer attended Peoria Christian Grade School, and received his high school diploma by mail...

Nov 12, 2024

Dorothy Ann Nunnikhoven was born July 14, 1934, to Dick and Alice (Vermeer) Langstraat in Mahaska County. She was baptized and later, on April 9, 1950, made profession of her faith at Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. She received her education through the 8th grade in Mahaska County rural schools.

In the spring of 1951, she met...

Oct 19, 2024

Gregory Alan Gerdes was born March 14, 1961, to Dennis "Duck" and Darlene (Sillman) Gerdes, in Britt, Iowa.

Greg was a 1979 graduate of Woden Crystal Lake High School. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering at Iowa State University. He also attained his Professional Engineering designation.

On December 27, 1986, he married...

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...