Douglas Witzenburg

Douglas Jon Witzenburg, 50, of Pella, Iowa, passed away of sudden cardiac arrest on October 16, 2020. He was born in Pella on October 31, 1969, to Loren and Alma (Hoksbergen) Witzenburg.

How do you sum up a life?  Douglas was a loving and faithful husband to Loretta, his wife of thirty years.  He worked hard and provided for his family, yet he always added some fun and silliness to life.  He liked to take the scenic route. We always joked that all of his childhood stories ended with “and then I got in trouble.”  

Doug was a great dad to their three children. Gretchen, Connor, and Emma were his pride and joy.  He loved spending time with them and helping them to pursue their interests.  He was a good father-in-law to Dalton, and for the last six months of his life, he greatly enjoyed being a grandpa to Dakota.

He was also a fun uncle, sneaking Smarties to his nieces and nephews and trying out all the Snapchat filters. He loved to tease, but also had a listening ear and words of wisdom.

Doug trusted in Jesus Christ as his Savior, and continued to grow in his faith.  He wanted to share that with others. He had a lot of conversations and many were in his prayers.

For most of his professional life, he worked for Alliant Energy in Carroll, Muscatine, Sigourney, and Pella, Iowa. In every place he lived, he made friends and some became family.

He had a lifelong love of the outdoors and enjoyed being in the woods or on the water fishing.  Doug was the type of person who could talk to anyone, and he usually had a smile on his face. He genuinely cared about others.  He took the time to ask them about their lives and listened to their answers. Doug loved deeply and he was deeply loved in return.

Doug is survived by his wife: Loretta (Van Arkel) Witzenburg.

Children: Gretchen (Dalton) Webster, Connor Witzenburg, and Emma Witzenburg.

Grandson: Dakota Webster.

Siblings: Lynda (Ron) Bateman, Lisa Witzenburg, Dave (Jayme) Witzenburg, and Greg (Kristen) Witzenburg. 

He is also survived by many in-laws (or outlaws, as he would call them): his father and mother-in-law Henry and Leona Van Arkel, Luann & Arlen Phillips, Kathy Groenendyk, Joyce & Delwin Vonk, Margie & Kip Greenhalgh, and Doug & Jenna Van Arkel.  At last count, between Doug and Loretta’s families, there were 30 nieces and nephews (plus spouses) and 12 great nieces and nephews.  He is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Loren, in 2019, and his mother, Alma, in 2016, his grandparents, Gerritt & Ethel Witzenburg, and Ray & Johanna Hoksbergen, as well as other extended family members.

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