VanDer Pol, Bernard David – 1939-2017

DIELEMAN, DUNNICK, ELSCOTT, MILLER, ROUWENHORST, VAN ZANTE, VAN DER POL, VOSS, WILSON, ZYLSTRA

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:27

Funeral services for Bernie Van Der Pol, were held Wednesday, Apr. 26, 2017 at First Reformed Church, Sully. Interment followed in the Sully Cemetery at Sully, Iowa with military honors.
Memorial contributions may be given for the Bernie VanDer Pol Memorial Fund to be directed to the Jasper County Fair Board.
Bernard David VanDer Pol, 77, passed away Saturday evening, Apr. 22, 2017, at his residence where he was born south of Sully.
Bernard David Van Der Pol was the son of Gerrit and Marie (Dunnick) Van Der Pol. He was born on April 24, 1939, south of Sully, Iowa on the homeplace of his parents, where he continued to live the remainder of his life, 77 years, 11 months, and 28 days. Bernie grew up there with two older sisters, Nellie and Annie. He was a member of the Class of 1957, the first graduating class from Lynnville-Sully High School in Sully. During high school, he played six-man football and basketball. Following his graduation, he enlisted in the Iowa National Guard and was proud of his military commitment. Bernie then began farming and milking with his dad on their homeplace.
On September 4, 1962, he and Carlene Mae Van Zante were united in marriage at the Otley Reformed Church, Otley, Iowa and to this union two children were born, Kayleen June and Kenneth Gerrit. Bernie continued a lifetime commitment of farming, milking, and raising cattle. He was the first in Iowa to raise Simmental breed cattle, served on the Iowa Simmental Association Board as president, was president of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and was president of the Iowa Beef Expo. During this time in his career, Bernie was employed for a few years at Vermeer Manufacturing Company in Pella, Iowa as a machinist. He graduated from auctioneering school in 1968. His auctioneering training enabled him to conduct and even set up sales events for cattle sales throughout the Midwest. He had been active in FFA and was a faithful member of First Reformed Church in Sully, Iowa where he was involved with Promise Keepers. Bernie and Carlene enjoyed the winters they were able to spend together in Apache Junction, Arizona until he passed away on April 22 at his home.
Surviving are his wife, Carlene, of Sully, Iowa; their two children and their families: Kayleen and Al Miller and their two children: Alise Korinne Miller and Carson Alan Miller of Waukee, Iowa; Kenny and Jill (Dieleman) Van Der Pol and their three children: Max Gerrit, Chase Isabella, and Skyler Ann Van Der Pol of Urbandale, Iowa; his two sisters: Nellie (Orville) Zylstra, Annie and her husband Melvin Rouwenhorst of Pella, Iowa; two brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law: Norman and Mary Van Zante of Pella, Louise (Van Zante) and Brian Wilson of Monroe, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.
Bernie was preceded in death by his parents, Gerrit and Marie Van Der Pol; his brother-in-law, Orville Zylstra; his parents-in-law, Francis M. and Ellen (Elscott) Van Zante; a niece, Ruth Zylstra; and a great-niece, Morgan Voss.
Source: Monroe (IA) Legacy; Thursday, April 27, 2017, page 3