Heemstra, Marion Ray – 1920-2009

BAKER, DAVIS, GRAVES, HARTNESS, HEEMSTRA, LUBBERDEN, LUST, NIKKEL, VAN HOUWELING

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 12/26/2009 at 15:18:21

Marion Ray Heemstra was born May 27, 1920, to Neal and Edith Baker Heemstra at the family home in Marion County, Iowa. He passed away at the Mercy Medical Center the morning of Dec. 11, 2009, at the age of 89.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 18, at the Otley Reformed Church. Visitation will begin at noon Thursday with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. at the Garden Chapel Funeral Home in Pella.
Marion attended country school through the eighth grade. He was united in marriage with Mary E. Van Houweling on Oct. 7, 1947, at the First Reformed Church in Pella. To this union, three daughters were born: Marilee, Marla and MaryBeth.
Marion lived outside Otley for most of his life. He also lived in Fair Haven and the Hilltop Manor in Pella, and most recently at the Trinity Center at Luther Park in Des Moines.
Marion farmed all of his life, and also worked and retired from the machine shop at Vermeer Manufacturing in Pella. Later in life, he drove school bus for the Monroe schools.
Marion was a life-long member at the Otley Reformed Church. He also belonged to the Otley Co-op and was a charter member of the Garden Chapel Funeral Home.
Those left to cherish his memory are his daughter, Marilee and Mark Davis of Des Moines, Iowa; his son-in-law, Carl and Janet Lust of Reasnor, Iowa; his grandchildren, Adam and Kerry Lust, James and Marcee Nikkel, Scott Nikkel, Julie and Daniel Hartness and Max Davis; his great-great-grandchildren, Thomas Nikkel and Carter and Brandon Lust; and his sister, Katherine Lubberden of Monroe, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary; and his daughters, MaryBeth Heemstra Lust and Marla Heemstra Graves.
Marion enjoyed pitching horseshoes, playing cards and singing. He loved his farm, his friends and his family, and he will be missed by many.
Source: Newton Daily News; Monday, December 14, 2009