Vriezelaar, Jesse Emery – 1909-1993

BROBST, BUWALDA, DECKER, FASZLER, KELLEY, KLEIN, KNOLL, LONNING, RICHARDSON, VRIEZELAAR, WELKER

Posted By: Donna Sloan Rempp
Date: 8/27/2016 at 15:11:33

Services Held
Jesse Emery Vriezelaar passed away September 18, 1993, in the Pella Community Hospital at the age of 84 years. Funeral services were held Tuesday, September 21, 1993 at the First Baptist Church in Pella with Dr. Gary D. Smith officiating services. Interment was in the Oakwood Cemetery in Pella.
Jesse was the first of five children born to Ira Garfield and Sarah Klein Vriezelaar. He was born on April 10, 1909, at Otley, Iowa, where he spent his youthful years and began his schooling. Jess continued his education in the Pella Community Schools in Pella, Iowa, and graduated from Pella High School in 1926. His first employment was working on a road crew and he then worked as a mechanic in a garage at Otley. On April 19, 1930, he was united in marriage with Minnie Buwalda at Pella and to this union four children were born: Sarah Ruth, Patricia Irene, Gary Eugene, and Keith Richard. That same year Jess began working for the U.S. Post Office in Pella. He continued as a civil service employee for over 39 years and retired as a mail carrier in 1969. Following his retirement and his wife’s retirement from the Pella Manufacturing Corporation, they began spending their winters in Arizona. Jess continued to work part-time at the West End Service Station, but they spent most of their time together traveling. On April 18, 1984, one day prior to their 54th wedding anniversary, Minnie passed away while they were residing in Mesa. Following her death, Jess continued to make his residence in the Pella Manor during the summer and spent the winters in Arizona. While living in Arizona, Jess remained active. On September 18,1993, Jess passed away in the Pella Community Hospital at the age of 84 years, five months and eight days. He had returned from a trip to the Netherlands two days earlier.
Surviving are his four children and their spouses: Sarah R (Sally) Lonning of Scottsdale, Arizona; Patricia I. (Pat) and Neale Kelley of Beatrice, Nebraska; Gary E. and Donna Vriezelaar of Blaine, Minnesota; Keith R. and Betty Vriezelaar of Pella. Jess leaves nine grandchildren: William D. Kelley, Carol B. Welker and Michael B. Kelley; Craig E. Vriezelaar, Cynthia D. Richardson and Steven E. Vriezelaar, Kimberly J. Brobst, Dana S. Knoll and Douglas R. Vriezelaar; 16 great grandchildren and his two sisters: Mrs. Betty Faszler of Whiting, New Jersey and Mrs. Ruth Decker of Tucson, Arizona.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Minnie; his parents; his twin brothers, Gerald Matthew and Matthew Gerald Vriezelaar, and a son-in-law, Wayne Lonning, Jess was an active member of the First Baptist church in Pella. He belonged to the Letter Carriers Association and was involved in the Good SAM Camping club. Jess was the patriarch of his family.
Source: Monroe Legacy; 30 September 1993