Shirley De Bruin

Shirley Anne Van Donselaar De Bruin was the second child born to Gilbert “Bob” and Cornelia (Kay Groenenboom) Van Donselaar on December 27, 1944, at the Mahaska Hospital in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Shirley was baptized as an infant at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa.

Shirley attended Valley Country School for most of primary school and junior high. It was a one-room schoolhouse and she had one other classmate. She graduated from Pella Christian High School in 1963. That year she also made profession of faith in Jesus Christ as her only Lord and Savior at First Christian Reformed.

Shirley met Ron De Bruin at church. They were united in marriage on September 11, 1964, by Rev. John H. Piersma at First Christian Reformed Church in Pella. They began their married life together living on the De Bruin family farm.

Shirley’s goal in life was to be a good Christian wife and mother to her children. To this union five children were born: Thomas, Jerry, Steven, Sheryl and Daniel. Daniel was born with special needs and not expected to live. Some days were hard, but the Lord gave them the grace and strength to get through all those days. Daniel went home to live with Jesus forever in Heaven at the age of two.

In the 1980s, Ron built a new home for Shirley and the kids and they moved down the road from the family farm. Shirley started working various jobs: housecleaner, in-home babysitting, the Day Care Center, Hilltop Manor, Central College, Pella Community Food Service, Third Reformed Church, Pella Regional Health Center as an Activity Assistant, and as a van driver for the special needs children at Pella Community Schools.

Shirley was an active member of Third Reformed Church. She taught Sunday School, Family Night and Calvinettes. She also served in the Pastoral Shepherding Ministry and Sheltering Tree Congregational Care for many years. She loved to hang out with the Knotty Ladies’ Group who knot quilts for the needy.

Shirley’s great joy was spending time with her grandkids. She loved going to all their activities, band concerts and sporting events, as well as playing with her great grandchildren. She enjoyed traveling to visit Steve’s family in Michigan and Sheryl’s family overseas.

Shirley’s hobbies included playing piano and accordion, crocheting, walks, flower gardens, reading books, and writing encouragement cards to anyone who was in need. She loved sewing American Girl doll dresses for her granddaughters and quilts for her grandchildren.

Shirley and Ron enjoyed the last 17 years wintering in Arizona. She learned to quilt, made new friends and was involved in the Slick Chick Chorus and Country Side Chorus.

Shirley leaves her husband, Ronald, four children and their spouses, 11 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren.

Thomas and Michelle (Van Zante) De Bruin, Mark and John.

Jerry and Pam (Van Wyk) De Bruin, Josh and Ashley De Bruin (Lucille, Rosalyn and Benjamin), Krista (De Bruin) and Elijah Schaefer (Judah and baby due in June) and Kara De Bruin.

Steven and Kim (Bomgaars) De Bruin, Greg and Kate De Bruin, Andrew De Bruin and Nichole De Bruin

Sheryl (De Bruin) and Jackson Landham, Klaire, Ava and Lorelai.

Shirley leaves her siblings, sister Marge Van Haaften, brother Robert and Kathy Van Donselaar, sister Peggy and Dale Bergman, sister-in-law Sue De Bruin and sister-in-law Linda and John Kersbergen along with many nieces and nephews.

Those who Shirley has joined in heaven are her son Daniel De Bruin, her parents Gilbert and  Cornelia Van Donselaar, her mother and father-in-law Roy and Clara De Bruin, and brothers-in-law: Glen De Bruin and Marv Van Haaften.

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