Carol Terlouw

Carol Lorraine (Voskuil) Terlouw, age 88 of Pella, Iowa, passed away on May 31, 2021, at the Comfort House. She was born to Edward and Alice (Simelink) Voskuil in Baldwin, Wisconsin on August 30, 1932. Carol grew up there with her five sisters and one brother. She attended several rural schools and graduated from Baldwin High School in 1950. She went to a business school in Minneapolis and worked at Minneapolis Moline. She decided to go to Central College for one year where she met her future husband Reuben Terlouw on a blind date. After writing many letters and many trips between Pella and Baldwin, Carol and Reuben were married on December 29, 1954.

On February 11, 1955, Reuben left for the service. Carol stayed in Pella and worked at the telephone office. After eight weeks, she joined Reuben in Fort Smith, Arkansas where they lived for two years. While in Fort Smith, she worked as a bookkeeper for an insurance firm. After being discharged from the service, they moved to a farm northeast of Pella where they lived for more than 60 years. Carol was always ready to help Reuben on the farm.

Carol always had a garden and did a lot of canning and freezing food.  She was a 4-H leader for several years. Carol was active in Berean Baptist Church as a Sunday school teacher, Bible school teacher, the social committee, and loved singing in the choir. After the children were grown, she worked in food service at Pella Community Hospital for eighteen years. She also cut lace for Heritage Lace. After retiring, she volunteered at the “Ask Me Desk” in PRHC.

Carol enjoyed traveling to the different parts of the U.S. and Canada. She loved hiking in the mountains and canyons. Her last trip was to the Netherlands, which she really enjoyed. Reuben and Carol raised three sons: Steven Lee, Keith Alan and Bruce Randall.

Steven and Julie Terlouw, Ames, Iowa

            Karen and Paul McDonald

            Laura and Scott Kincaid

            Michelle and Tim Rue

Keith and Marianne Terlouw, Marina Del Rey, California

            Laura and Eric Pyhrr

            Matthew and Morgan Terlouw

            Jessica and Kasey Disher

Bruce and Marla Terlouw, Pella, Iowa

            Jaci and Kyle Nunnikhoven

            Tyler and Autumn Terlouw

            Katie and Russell Pearson

            Kimberly Terlouw

Carol is survived by her husband Reuben Terlouw, her three sons and their wives, ten grandchildren and their families, 26 great grandchildren, one sister Delores Te Beest of Milwaukee, a sister-in-law Sally Voskuil of Green Bay, a brother and sister-in-law Norman and Linda Terlouw of Pella; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death  by her parents Edward and Alice Voskuil, her parents-in-law Gysbert and Winnie Terlouw, her sisters Eleanor (Lawrence Ingelse) and (Ted) Engstrom, Laverne (Clarence) Somsen, Delores (Lowell) Te Beest, Marlys (John) Blok, Muriel (Don) Christianson, and one brother David (Sally) Voskuil.

Carol was a loving wife, mother, grandma and great grandma. It was her desire that all her family would trust Jesus as their Savior and gather around her in heaven someday.

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