VanDalen, Fern Louise 1944-2022

VANDALEN, VANDERWILT, VANWYK, TERPSTRA, DEZWARTE, GETTYS, WILLIAMS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/18/2022 at 18:27:01

Fern L. VanDalen
1944 - 2022

Fern Louise Van Dalen was born February 29, 1944, at the family home east of Sully, Iowa. She was the youngest of three children that were born to Martin and Marjorie Grace (VanderWilt) VanWyk. Fern attended Junction Country Grade School (Lynn Groove #5) through the sixth grade before completing her formal education by graduating from the Lynnville-Sully High School in 1962. Fern was united in marriage with Vernon Leo Terpstra on June 18, 1963, in Sully, Iowa. To this union they were blessed with four children: Todd Murray, Krista Jill, Jodi Dawn and Jill Denise. Fern worked in the Maytag office until staying home to raise her four children. She was especially diligent in attending to the needs of her family through these years. Fern lived in Pella and Leighton before moving to the farm west of Monroe, December 1970, where she lived until the marriage dissolved and she moved into town (Monroe) 1980. On March 16, 1985, Fern was united in marriage with Larry Wayne VanDalen in Newton, Iowa and gained three step-children. Fern worked for the Pella hospital, the Vernon Company and retired from Principal Financial Group.

Fern was a member of the Otley Reformed Church, Monroe Baptist Church and the last four years attended Newton Church of the Way. She was actively involved in these churches participating in the church choir, leader in the youth programs and being on the decorating committee.

Fern enjoyed decorating her home. She was very creative and could make old things new by refinishing old furniture. She loved to sew when raising her children and would make the girls lots of new dresses and Holly Hobbie pictures for their bedroom walls. She also found playing piano, cross stitching, crocheting and macrame’ to be enjoyable. She enjoyed camping at the Iowa State Fair, coffee time with her friends and caring for her cat, Bella. Most of all, Fern enjoyed spending time with her family, whether it was shopping with her daughters, watching her grandchildren’s sporting events, game nights, celebrating birthdays or Celebrating Christmas, she dearly loved them all.

Fern passed away late Friday evening, July 15, 2022, at the Pella Comfort House surrounded by her four loving children. She was 78 years old. (or 19 1/2 in Leap Year birthdays). Fern was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Marjorie Van Wyk; her husband, Larry VanDalen; her sister, Joyce VanWyk; a brother-in-law, Carroll DeZwarte and her in-laws, Wayne and Valeta VanDalen.

Those left to honor Fern’s memory include one son and his wife and three daughters and their husbands, fourteen grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren (with one on the way); her sister, Rosalie DeZwarte, two nephews, one niece, and three stepchildren, Angie Gettys, Denise Williams, and Greg VanDalen and their families.

A time celebrating Fern’s life will be 11:00 am, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Newton Church of the Way. A visitation with the family will be from 5:00 until 8:00 pm Tuesday at the Newton Church of the Way. Memorials may be designated to Jasper County Conservation for benches on the Red Rock Prairie Trail and may be left at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home or the church.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Fern VanDalen, please visit Tribute Store

VISITATION WITH THE FAMILY
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Tuesday, July 19, 2022
Newton Church Of The Way
2306 S. 3rd Avenue E.
Newton, Iowa, United States
Need Directions?
View Map | Text Directions | Email Directions
Order Flowers For Fern VanDalen's Visitation With The Family
Guaranteed before Fern's Visitation with the family begins

CELEBRATION OF LIFE
11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Newton Church Of The Way
2306 S. 3rd Avenue E.
Newton, Iowa, United States
Need Directions?
View Map | Text Directions | Email Directions
Order Flowers For Fern VanDalen's Celebration Of Life
Guaranteed before Fern's Celebration of Life begins

INTERMENT
2:00 pm
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Silent City Cemetery
Jasper St.
Monroe, Iowa, United States
Need Directions?
View Map | Text Directions | Email Directions