Van Stennis, Merle W. 1918-1989

VAN STEENIS, VAN STENNIS, VANDEN HOEK, VANDER KIEFT, FUGITT, ZYLSTRA, VAN REES

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/31/2006 at 16:08:52

Mary Lou Van Stennis
Merle W. Van Stennis

PELLA -- Mary Lou and Merle W. Van Steenis, 55, and 70, respectively, died Wednesday, Feb. 15, at their home north of Pella.

Combined funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the Trinity Reformed Church in Pella.

The Rev. Donald W. Plantinga, pastor of the church, will conduct services. Burial will be in the Oakwood Cemetery in Pella.

Friends may call at the Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella Friday and until Saturday noon.

Memorial contributions to the Trinity Reformed Church or the Pella Community Nursing Home will be accepted.

Mrs. Van Steenis, a former resident of the Monroe and Otley communities, is survived by three sons, Paul K. Vander Kieft of Pella, Gregg C. Vander Kieft of Phoenix, Ariz., and David Vander Kieft of Iowa City; a daughter, Carol E. (Mrs. John) Fugitt of Missoula, Mont.; and four grandchildren.

Also surviving are five brothers, William Zylstra of Kellogg, Orville D. Zylstra and Wendell L. Zylstra, both of Sully, and R. Marvin Zylstra and Claude Zylstra, both of Pella; and a sister, Delores A. (Mrs. Gary) Van Rees of Pella.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister and a brother in infancy.

Mrs. Van Steenis had been a secretary at Vermeer Manufacturing Co. and at the time of her death was employed by the Pella Community Nursing Home.

The daughter of Paul and Gertie Vanden Hoek, she was born Feb. 24, 1933 in Grinnell and was educated in rural Grinnell Schools and Sully Christian High School.

She was married to Gareth P. Vander Kieft Nov. 19, 1953 and the couple farmed near Otley for six years and west of Monroe for seven years.

Mr. Van Steenis is survived by three daughters, Sheryl (Mrs. Clifford) Mulder of Pella, Susan K. (Mrs. James) Hanson of Le Claire, and Diane G. (Mrs. Robert) Schwan of Pella; a brother, Raymond C. Van Steenis of Pella; and a sister, Norma (Mrs. Leonard) Simmons of Leighton; and two grandsons.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Pearl, Jan. 16, 1983 and his parents.

The son of Engle and Marie De Reus Van Steenis, he was born Oct. 29, 1918 near Taintor and attended Marion County schools.

He was married to Pearl A. De John March 16, 1944 in Leighton and the couple farmed near Harvey for five years and near Oskaloosa for six years.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Steenis were married March 18, 1984 and resided north of Pella where Mr. Van Steenis had resided since 1955.

The Van Steenises were members of the Trinity Reformed Church of Pella.

~ Newton Daily News, Newton, Iowa, February 17, 1989