Van Wyk, Daniel 1932-2019

BARNES, BRUXVOORT, BUNDAY, CRAVER, DIELEMAN, DINGEMAN, GRITTERS, HOUK, JANSEN, KANIS, LANSER, MAGNUSSEN, SCHARES, STROBEL, STURSMA, VAN GELDER, VAN GENT, VAN KOOTEN, VAN WYK, ZANTINGH, ZYLSTRA

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:30

Daniel Van Wyk
April 7, 1932 - November 14, 2019

Daniel Van Wyk, son of Louis and Christine (Dieleman) Van Wyk, was born on April 7, 1932, in Sully, Iowa. Dan was the oldest of four siblings and they moved to a farm near Prairie City, Iowa when Dan was three years old. His parents moved back to Sully when Dan was in 5th grade so he could attend the Sully Christian School and graduated from the 8th grade. Dan was baptized and made profession of his faith in the Sully Christian Reformed Church.

On September 11, 1952, Dan was united in marriage to Harriet Kathryn Lanser. Shortly after their marriage, he was sent overseas with the military to serve in Korea for two years at the closing of the Korean War. While there he learned to run bull dozers, a skill he used often after his return to the United States. When Dan was discharged, he returned to Pella, Iowa where they were blessed with four children: Loren Douglas, Stuart Lee, Krista Lynn and Jana Kay. Dan and Harriet farmed south of Pella for three years and then moved to Kellogg, Iowa where they farmed for eight years. In 1965 they returned to Pella and farmed west of town.

Dan loved farming and working with machinery of all kinds. He took special pride in his tractors, trucks and pickups with lots of chrome. He also loved “playing” in the dirt with his loader, bulldozer and excavator! In later years he spent many hours volunteering his large equipment skills helping to build the Pella Christian High School and Federated Fellowship Church. Dan and Harriet enjoyed many days camping with friends, visiting with family and traveling together.

When Harriet’s health began to decline in 2005, Dan faithfully cared for her until she passed away in December of 2010 after 58 years of marriage. Dan lived alone for a few years, but in 2013 God brought Alberdeen “Alb” (Gritters) Stursma into his life and they were married on September 5, 2013. They thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company and thanked God for bringing them together.

Dan was a member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church and was involved in many volunteer activities such as Cadet Counselor, serving as an Elder and Deacon, and was active in Bible studies. On Thursday, November 14, 2019, he passed away at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella at the age of 87 years.

His memory will be cherished by his loving wife Alb, and his four children, three step-children and their families:

Loren and Jean (Zylstra) Van Wyk of Pella, Iowa
Lucas and Jean Van Wyk
Addison, Aubrey & Lexie
Chad and Derrica Van Wyk
Treyton, Brynnlee & Breckyn
Lance and Brynna Van Wyk
Bentley & Layna
Chess Van Wyk
Chanae Van Wyk
Darrin
Stuart and Kathy (Van Gent) Van Wyk of Pella, Iowa
Kendra (Van Wyk) and Ryan Zantingh
Ava, Hazel, Emerson & Silas
Klint Van Wyk
Kasey and Alysha Van Wyk
Alayna
Kyle Van Wyk
Krista and Evan Van Gelder of Pella, Iowa
Danielle (Van Gelder) and Collin Barnes
Eden & Ezalea
Emily (Van Gelder) and Ryan Bunday
Seth Van Gelder
Jana and John Magnussen of Pella, Iowa
Corey and Katie Magnussen
Elle, Leah & Colton
Staci (Magnussen) and Kegan Strobel
Beckett & Clay
Jacki (Stursma) and Ken Craver of Pella, Iowa
Desha and Jeff Bruxvoort
Jessemynn and Dr. S. Doug Kanis
Jimmy and Susan (Hicks) Stursma of New Sharon, Iowa
Jami and Casey Schares
Jerry Stursma of Otley, Iowa
Justin and Sheri Stursma
Jennifer and Jarrod Cooper

Besides his 19 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren Dan leaves his sister-in-law, Marilyn (Carroll) Van Wyk of Oskaloosa, Iowa, his brother Nelson Van Wyk and Jean, his sister Marilou and Ron Houk all of Pella; along with the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Junella (Peter) Lanser of Denver, Colorado, John and Lois Lanser of Pella, Marvin and Ruth Lanser of Holland, Michigan; Goldie (Gritters) Dingeman, Edgar and Regina Gritters, and Arnie Gritters all of Pella. Dan was preceded in death by his first wife, Harriet Lanser, his parents, Louis and Christine Van Wyk, his brother, Carroll Van Wyk; his parents-in-law, John and Elizabeth (Bruxvoort) Lanser; the following brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Mattie and Henry Jansen, Brant and Jo Lanser, Arie and Joanna Lanser, Durky and Gerrit Van Kooten, Nellie and Cornie Van Maaren, Henry and Clara Lanser, Joann and Ludolph Zylstra, Betty and Dewey Nikkel, Peter Lanser; parents-in-law, Rev. Martin and Jeanette Gritters; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Frank and Revena Gritters, Duane Dingeman, and Nancy Gritters.

Dan was always so thankful to have his family living close around and commented how special it was the whole family could get together every month for Sunday lunches. Dan talked often about how he belonged body and soul, in life and in death, to his faithful savior, Jesus Christ. He prayed daily for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to know the Lord and put their faith and trust in Him.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, November 19, 2019 at 10:30 am,
Calvary Christian Reformed Church, Pella, Iowa.
Interment will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery at Pella with military honors.

Visitation will begin Monday after 1:00 pm with family present from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Calvary Christian Reformed Church.

Memorial contributions are suggested for the Pella Christian Grade School or Pella Christian High School. ~ The Van Dyk ~ Duven Funeral Home, Pella, Iowa 14 Nov 2019.