William Stursma

William Leonard Stursma, the eldest of five children, was born on a farm north of Pella, on May 15, 1929, to Ryn and Maria (Simons) Stursma.

In his younger years he worked for Pella Canning Company, at which time he was called up to serve his country in the Army. He served as a medic on the front lines in Korea during that conflict. When he returned to the U.S., he married the love of his life, Hermina Van Kooten, at the Oskaloosa First Christian Reformed Church. They moved to Colorado Springs and then onto Denver where he finished his service working at Fitzsimons Army Hospital. After his discharge, Bill went back to work for Pella Canning. In 1954, Bill and Hermina moved to a farm east of Pella, where their four children Sheryl, Alan, Debra and Ronald were born. After 13 years of farm life, the family moved back to Pella and Bill went back to work for his former employer, and then on to Vermeer Manufacturing from where he retired. Not being kept busy, he went back to work for one year at the Super 8 Motel and then for 12 years at Pella Historical Society, which he really enjoyed.

Bill was baptized at the Pella Second Christian Reformed Church at a young age and made public profession of faith there at an early age. For all but three of his teen years, he was a member of Pella Second Christian Reformed Church, where he served both as deacon and elder.

He and his wife were blessed with four children, 15 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren, and four great great grandchildren.

Those left to cherish Bill’s memory are his wife Hermina and their family:

Sherry (Rodger) Braafhart of Pella

            Michelle (Darin) Wogen

            Shannon Braafhart

            Brett (Kaylee) Braafhart

Alan (Kathy) Stursma of Pella

            Ami (Troy) Fisher

            Chad (Jaclyn) Stursma

Debbie (Doug) Denburger of Oskaloosa

            Ryan (Kelsey) Denburger 

            Matt (Kara) Denburger

            Alan Denburger

            Grant Denburger

Ron (Jacki) Stursma of Ottumwa

            Adam (Heather) Bauer

            Ashley (Kyle) Rowe

            Corie (Franklin) Raymundo

            Andrea (Ryan) Smith

            Curt Bauer

            Max Stursma

Bill is also survived by his sister Thressa Nieuwsma,  sister-in-law Jo Stursma, and brothers and sisters-in-law: Marie De Boef, Maryanne Van Kooten, Kenny (Marlene) Van Kooten, Darlene (Elmer) Kloosterman, and Elvin Van Kooten.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents Ryn and Maria Stursma, his brothers: Henry (Betty) Stursma, Paul (Shirley) Stursma, Cornie Stursma, brother-in-law Gelmer Nieuwsma.

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