Stouwie, Gerrit Nelson 1926-2014

STOUWIE, RYKEN, VAN WYK, COLGAN, SIDMAN, KLEIN, SPOELSTRA, BRUXVOORT, VANDER WAL, VELDHUIZEN, LEFTWICH, TERLOUW, DEGEEST, HOYT, VAN ARKEL, BRAAKSMA, DE HOEDT, VER STEEG, ANTLE, BRUSH

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/6/2014 at 08:37:38

Gerrit N. Stouwie, 87, of Pella died April 29, 2014, at the Mahaska County Hospital in Oskaloosa.

A funeral service was held today at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella with interment in the Oakwood Cemetery at Pella with military honors. ~ The Newton (IA) Daily News.
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Gerrit Stouwie Aug 19, 1926 - Apr 29, 2014
Obituary

Gerrit Nelson Stouwie was the second of eleven children that were born to Cecil and Bertha (Ryken) Stouwie. He was born on August 19, 1926, in Mahaska County near Oskaloosa, Iowa. Gerrit attended country grade school and Pella Christian High School in Pella, Iowa. His father solicited his help during high school and he then continued working as a farmhand as a young lad.

In February, 1945, Gerrit enlisted into the United States Marine Corps during World War II and served until his discharge in August, 1946. Gerrit continued to correspond with Faye Ola Van Wyk while in the military service and on June 6, 1947, they were united in marriage at the First Reformed Church in Sully, Iowa. To this union two sons were born: David Allen and Bradley J. Stouwie.

Gerrit was living in University Park, Iowa at the time of their marriage and they continued living in Oskaloosa, Iowa for a short time. They then moved to Pella where Gerrit had a milk route for Maytag Dairy and Bordens Dairy Products, delivering milk to residents in Pella. In 1963 he began driving semi-truck long haul and later drove truck locally. Working was a way of life for Gerrit.

On July 31, 2009, Faye passed away. Gerrit continued to make his home in Pella at the Pella Manor and Fair Haven East until recently when he became a resident at a care facility in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He passed away late Tuesday evening, April 29, 2014, at the Mahaska County Hospital in Oskaloosa at the age of 87 years.
Gerrit is survived by his two sons and their families: David Stouwie of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and his son, Michael Stouwie; Bradley Stouwie (Karen) of Box Elder, South Dakota; and their two daughters: Valerie Stouwie and Richard Colgan and her daughter, Kaylee, and Lynn (Matt) Sidman.

Of his original family Gerrit leaves six sisters and their husbands: Helen (Elmer) Klein of Pella; Bernice (Bob) Hoyt of Pleasantville, Iowa; Elner (Cornie) Spoelstra of Oskaloosa; Betty and (Marvin) Bruxvoort of Pella; Wilma (Carl) Vander Wal of Nevada, Iowa; Leona (Wayne) Veldhuizen of Oskaloosa; his brother-in-law, Bob (Marjorie Stouwie) Leftwich of Salina, Kansas; and his sister-in-law, Carolyn (Cecil) Stouwie of Port Richey, Florida; along with two sisters-in-law: Edith (David) Van Wyk of Grinnell, Iowa; and Nellie (Bert) Van Wyk of Pella,; and a brother-in-law, Henry (Mary Grace Van Wyk) Terlouw of Lynnville, Iowa. Gerrit was preceded in death by his wife, Faye; his parents, Cecil and Bertha Stouwie; a brother, Raymond Stouwie and a brother, Cecil Stouwie; two sisters: Jane and her husband, Raymond DeGeest and Marjorie Leftwich, and a brother-in-law, Bob Hoyt; his parents-in-law, Gysbert and Gertrude (Van Arkel) Van Wyk; and the following brothers-in-law and sisters-in-laws: Bill and Johanna Van Wyk, Case and Artie Van Wyk, Henry and Clara Van Wyk, Bert and Pauline Van Wyk, Marion and Tunetta Van Wyk, David Van Wyk, Carrie (Van Wyk) and John Braaksma, Mattie (Van Wyk) and Gerrit De Hoedt, Minnie (Van Wyk) and Ben Ver Steeg, Jeanette (Van Wyk) and Max Antle, Gertie (Van Wyk) and Jim Ver Steeg, Alenis (Van Wyk) and Rex Brush, and Mary Grace (Van Wyk) Terlouw.

Gerrit was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa.

Funeral Services will be held on
Monday, May 5, 2014, at 2:00 p.m.
First Christian Reformed Church, Pella, Iowa
Interment will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery at Pella, Iowa with military honors.

Visitation will begin Sunday morning at Van Dyk- Duven Funeral Home where the family will be present Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. ~ The Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home, Pella, Iowa.