Fopma, Rich – 1927- 2015

DAHM, DEVRIES, FOPMA, GUISE HEIMSTRA, HOEKSTRA, JANSEN, KLYN, SLINKER, VAN KOOTEN, VAN ROEKEL, VAN WYK, ZYLSTRA

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 10/9/2016 at 12:53:31

Richard G. Fopma, 88, of Pella and formerly of Sully, passed away Thursday afternoon, Nov. 12, 2015, at the Cottages in Pella. Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 16, at 11 a.m. at Covenant Reformed Church in Pella following interment in Sully Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Sully Christian School or PET-IA Leighton.
Richard Gene Fopma was born Aug. 7, 1927, on the family farm north of Sully. He was the second of four children born to Rutford and Hattie (Jansen) Fopma. Rich, as he was known, attended Highland Country Grade School and graduated from Sully Christian School. He then began a lifelong career in farming. On Mar. 15, 1950, he was united in marriage with Marjorie Dahm, a daughter of Henry and Minnie (Van Roekel) Dahm. They were married at the Dahm home in Peoria. To this union five children were born. Rich thoroughly enjoyed farming and spending his life with Marjorie on the farm, raising their family. He was well known for being a hard worker. He also enjoyed playing fast pitch softball in his earlier years and then watching his children play sports. He was an avid sports fan and had a competitive spirit. They moved in 1988 to a house they built in Sully, and Rich continued to help on the farm. Rich also enjoyed riding in the WHO and Red Rock Threshers Tractor Rides for many years. Rich and Marjorie also enjoyed traveling and visiting throughout the U.S. and Europe. They volunteered eight years for CRWRC (World Renew) projects, and in the last years, he enjoyed working at PET in Leighton. Rich enjoyed driving around the country, reminiscing, looking at the crops, and traveling around Iowa. Rich was a former member of the Sully Christian Reformed Church. After moving to Pella in 2007, he became a member of Covenant Reformed Church in Pella.
Rich is survived by his devoted wife of 65 years, Marjorie Fopma; and their five children: Ervin (Gayle) Fopma of Sully, Judy (Tim) Hoekstra of Chino, CA, Verna (Al) Klyn of Oskaloosa, Rick (Carla) Fopma of Lynnville, and Loren (Shawna) Fopma of Sully; 17 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren. Of his original family, Rich leaves his three sisters, Bertha Zylstra, Clarine Van Kooten, both of Sully, and Lois (Norm) Van Wyk of Pella. Of his wife’s family, he leaves her brothers, Arnold (Susan) Dahm of Cleveland, OH, and John (Sandi) Dahm of Montezuma; her sisters, Norma (Ron) Heimstra of Des Moines, Barb Slinker of West Des Moines, Erma (Al) Guise of St. Louis, MO; and brother-in-law, Ted DeVries of Prescott, AZ.
Rich was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers-in-law, Clarence Van Kooten, Donald Van Kooten, William Zylstra, and Phil Slinker; and sister-in-law, Ruth DeVries. He will be fondly remembered by family and friends.