Dirk Rietveld

Dirk Rietveld, a farmer and quality control inspector and life-long resident of Pella, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly on December 4, 2022, at his home.

Dirk was born in Oskaloosa, Iowa, on July 13, 1963, to Norm and Betty Rietveld. He attended Pella Community High School, class of 1981. He graduated from the American Institute of Business (AIB) in Des Moines in 1987.

In January 1988, he was united in marriage to Rachel Hugen. To this union, they were blessed with two children.

Dirk worked as a traveling spice salesman for Todd’s Spices after graduation, then moved on to being a welder at Vermeer, and eventually became a quality control inspector for Trinity Structural Towers in Newton where he worked for nearly a dozen years until retiring in 2021. Alongside all of those jobs, Dirk was also doing his true passion – farming – and he was doing what he loved up until his last day.

Dirk came from a large family and loved visiting his 5 siblings whether in Moline, Omaha or right here in Pella. The same stories were told time and time again, but the laughter was always just as loud as the first telling.

Dirk loved dogs his whole life, and his mini-dachsund Grety was always by his side. He loved watching old westerns, grilling out in the summer, celebrating and commiserating nearly every week with great friends about Iowa Hawkeye football, playing pitch and cribbage, and listening to music. He loved that his kids became fans of Cheap Trick, Queen, Sammy Hagar, The Scorpions and The Who when he cranked it up loud on Friday nights while in high spirits.

Dirk was a proud and loving father to his kids, and enjoyed working with his son on the farm. He loved seeing his daughter excel in her career in the Air National Guard. He loved becoming a grandpa, and having two grandsons who wanted to know everything about the farm. He will be missed by all.

Dirk was a member of Riverside Community Church in Knoxville.

Dirk is survived by his family:

Anna and Shawn Kelly, North Liberty, Iowa

Joe and Shay Rietveld, Otley, Iowa

            Hayden, Owen

Dirk is also survived by his siblings: Rod (Nancy) Lindstrom of Moline, Illinois, Marydale (Michael) Steigleder of Omaha, Nebraska, Elizabeth (Paul) Vande Kieft of Pella,  Amy Silk of Pella, and Dan Rietveld of Pella. 

He was preceded in death by his parents.

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