Stephen Dykstra

Stephen Andrew Dykstra was born April 12, 1993, to Mike and Anna (Brackin) Dykstra in Pella.

Stephen attended Pella Christian Grade School and was a 2012 graduate of Pella Christian High School. Stephen played percussion in the marching band, was on student council, served as co-captain of the football team, and was the class speaker at graduation. He received his B.A. in public relations from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa. During college, he took journalism classes, worked on the campus newspaper and served on the president’s advisory panel. He held several leadership positions throughout college. Stephen enjoyed helping kids, and for several years he was a camp counselor at Hidden Acres Christian Center. He went on several mission trips locally and abroad. His college internships were at Vermeer Manufacturing, the Chapel Ministry program at YMCA of the Rockies, and in Washington, D.C. Since college graduation in 2016, Stephen worked for nonprofit Des Moines organizations benefitting children and families of Iowa. For the past three years, Stephen worked for Common Good Iowa in Des Moines as the communication associate. He enjoyed running, reading, cooking, spending quality time with friends and family and entertaining his cat, Franklin, with a laser pointer. He was a “pizza artist” who cooked to share. Stephen had a very big heart and loved helping people, as seen in many aspects of his life. 

Those left to cherish his memory are his parents Mike and Anna Dykstra, his sisters: Leah Nonnemacher of Duluth, Minnesota, and Julia Lanferman of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and his brother, Thomas Dykstra, of St. Paul, Minnesota, two brothers-in-law: Josh Nonnemacher and Jake Lanferman, two nephews: Easton and Dax Nonnemacher, plus numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and treasured friends.

Stephen was preceded in death by his grandparents: Dr. Roy and Genevieve Brackin and Ed and Diverta Dykstra, and his aunt and uncle, Janice and Jack Utterback.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to YMCA of the Rockies, Chapel Ministry or Common Good Iowa. 

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