Terpstra, Johanna Wilhelmina (Van Maanen) 1909-2006

TERPSTRA, VAN MAANEN, VAN DALEN

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 12/1/2006 at 20:16:22

Johanna Wilhelmina Van Maanen was born in Voorthuis, Holland, the Netherlands on August 31, 1909, at the home of her parents Wouter and Gijsbertha Van Dalen Van Maanen. She was born at home because her parents could not afford a doctor.

Minnie, as she was known, came to America in 1910 when she was just six months old. Her oldest sister, Artie, was 3 years old and her older brother, Teunis, was 2 years of age. Her Uncle Johan and Aunt Matje Van Maanen made it possible for the family to come to the United States and met them at Ellis Island, near New York City. The families then lived together in Killduff, Iowa until her father found work as a hired hand on a farm near Lynnville, Iowa. Minnie began her grade school education at Taylor Country School and completed her formal education at the Sully Christian School in Sully, Iowa.

On October 15, 1927, at the age of 18 years, Minnie was united in marriage with Dick Terpstra, son of William and Peternell Terpstra (Terpstra), in the parsonage of the Sully Christian Reformed Church in Sully. They made their home with her parents the first six months of their marriage until their first farm was available to rent in the spring of 1928. They lived on their first farm north of Lynnville, Iowa for two years.

Minnie and Dick lived and farmed in various places in the Lynnville and Sully, Iowa area following their marriage and were blessed with 13 children: Pauline Irene, Alberta Grace, Donna Ruth, Wilbur Dean who died in infancy in 1934, Viola May, Richard Lee, Marilyn Ilene, Vernon Leo, Virgil Dewayne, Ivan Eugene, Delano Gene who died in infancy in 1948, Twyla Faye and Julia Kay. Dick had farmed completely with horses until the early 1940's when he got his first tractor, a 10-20.

Their first really nice car was a black 1939 Chevy which could easily make the long hill on the way to Pella, Iowa without anyone pushing. Minnie and Dick then moved to a farm just outside the city limits of New Sharon, Iowa, their first place with electricity. They lived there just one year and then they bought their first farm, one mile west of Lynnville, where they lived for 26 years. While living there they were involved in a serious car accident, which left them with a few battle scars but graciously all their lives were spared.

It was time now for retirement and in 1975 Minnie and Dick moved into Pella, Iowa where they purchased a lovely home at 1108 Franklin Street where everyone was always welcome there. Dick suffered from Alzheimer's disease and on April 14, 1989, passed away at the Pleasant Park Nursing Home in Oskaloosa, Iowa at the age of 84 years. Minnie continued living in their home until July of 2004 when she became a resident in the Long Term Care Unit at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella.

She passed away there on Wednesday morning, October 18, 2006, at the age of 97 years, 1 month and 18 days. Minnie was devoted to and provided for a very large family, which now includes ten surviving children, 33 grandchildren, 85 great-grandchildren, 23 great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Of her original family she leaves her youngest brother, John Van Maanen of Newton, Iowa; and three sisters-in-law and a brother-in-law: Anna (Terpstra) Olsthoorn of Sully, Wilhelmina (Terpstra) Monsma of Pella, and Wanda (Terpstra) and Cornie Dunsbergen of Lynnville.

Minnie was preceded in death by her husband, Dick; her two infant sons: Wilbur Dean and Delano; her oldest daughter, Irene and her husband, Raymond Bennink; her parents: Wouter and Gijsbertha Van Maanen; and her older sister and brother: Artie Van Wyk and Teunis Van Maanen.

Minnie was a longtime, faithful member of the Sully Christian Reformed Church in Sully until transferring her membership to the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella. She loved flowers and crocheting and many of her hankies were shared with others. She enjoyed playing games and the many visits with her faithful and loving family.

For those desiring memorials may be given for the Christian Opportunity Center or to the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella to be designated for their radio ministry broadcast.

The Pella Chronicle, November 4, 2006