Nibbelink, Keith W. 1932-2007

NIBBELINK, VOS, VAN VELDHUIZEN, KLYN

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/26/2008 at 19:37:27

Keith W. Nibbelink was born on May 12, 1932, at home near Peoria, Iowa. He was the youngest child born to Albert and Jeanette Vos Nibbelink. When Keith was four years old the family moved to Pella, Iowa where his father worked as a meat cutter for the Ulrich Meat Market.

Keith attended and graduated from the Pella Christian Grade School and Pella Christian High School with the Class of 1950. As a young lad he would go twice a week before school to sweep the floors of his Uncle Herman Vos' "Dime Store." He also picked tomatoes in the summer for the Pella Canning Factory. He and his friends, John Vander Ploeg and Jay Kuiper, often told stories of what they did with the overripe tomatoes! During high school Keith worked for the Pella Chronicle and had to carry up all the newspapers after they were printed in the basement. He also helped his father and learned how to make "Pella Bologna" in the meat market.

As a young man, Keith learned good working habits and also worked at Boat & Boatsma Furniture for several years. In spite of his after school responsibilities, Keith excelled in many activities and was a good athlete at Pella Christian High School.

After high school Keith enrolled in American Institute of Business College in Des Moines, Iowa. He majored in accounting and business management and graduated in 1952. During this time Keith and his Uncle Bill Nibbelink drove to Des Moines from Pella each day and formed a very close friendship. Following his graduation from A.I.B. Keith started working at Firestone Tire & Rubber Company in Des Moines.

In December of 1952 Keith was drafted into the United States Army. He was on the last train to leave right before Christmas in 1952 for Camp Roberts, California. Subsequently Keith was on a ship for two weeks enroute to Japan and rode in a box car train for two days to Seoul, South Korea and fought in the front lines for three months. Sgt. Nibbelink was then transferred to the 8th Army Headquarters in Seoul where he worked in secret information for the Adjutant General Corps. Keith was proud to have served his country and in November 1954 was transferred to the Army Reserve. He was honorably discharged from the military service in November of 1960.

On August 17, 1956, Keith was united in marriage with Norma Jean Van Veldhuizen, a daughter of Evert and Bertha Klyn Van Veldhuizen, and to this union four children were born: Jeffrey Scott, Stuart Kent, Darla Annette and Amy Beth.

When Keith returned from the Korean War, Gary J. Vermeer asked him to begin working at Vermeer Manufacturing as a draftsman in the office. This ultimately began a 42 year career for Keith. Keith retired from Vermeer Manufacturing Company in 1996.

Following his retirement, Keith and Norma enjoyed traveling together and for many years would go to Colorado to hike in the mountains in September when the Aspen trees turned yellow. Three winters were spent in California to stay in touch with their younger grandchildren. The last two winters were spent in Florida, and Keith loved to sit on the beach and watch the powerful waves and the unending sky of the Atlantic Ocean.

Keith made profession of his faith at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella where he was active in the Young People's Society. He later became a charter member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Keith was a faithful member there for over 50 years during which time he had served as a deacon and then an elder. He also taught Sunday School and Catechism classes. When Keith and Norma were first married they were Young People's Society leaders and along with Gary and Matilda Vermeer put on plays and had "box suppers."

Keith served as president of the Pella Christian Grade School Board and also served on the Planning & Zoning Board for the City of Pella. He was a member of the Pella Historical Society and the Van Veen- Van Hemert American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella.

On Monday morning, November 26, 2007, God called Keith to follow the light to heaven while being cared for at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella at the age of 75 years, 6 months and 14 days.

Those left to honor his memory are his faithful wife of 51 years, Norma, their four children and their spouses and eleven grandchildren. They and their families are: Jeff and Karen (Scheffer) Nibbelink of Rock Valley, Iowa Kevin and Breanne Nibbelink Brian and Kim Nibbelink Kaysha Nibbelink Stuart and Sharon ( Faber) Nibbelink of Olathe, Kansas Andrea Nibbelink Abigail Nibbelink Darla and Paul Struck of Cherokee, Iowa Alex Struck Alisanne Struck Amy and Dan Vande Pol of Lake Worth, Florida Megan Vande Pol Nathan Vande Pol Emma Vande Pol Katelyn Vande Pol

Of his original family Keith leaves his sister, Ruth Jean Van Heukelom of Holland, Michigan; an Aunt Ida (Nibbelink) Kloosterman of Pella; three sisters-in-law and their husbands; and several nieces and nephews. Keith was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Jeanette Nibbelink; and his brother-in-law, Rev. Norman Van Heukelom. Revelation 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

Memorials may be given to the Hospice of Pella Comfort House or the Pella Christian High School New Campus Fund in Pella, Iowa

The Pella Chronicle, December 28, 2007