De Vries, Marion 1909-2009

DE VRIES, VAN WYNGARDEN, VAN GINKEL, VAN ZANTE, VAN DYK

Posted By: Ernie Braida (email)
Date: 1/12/2010 at 17:05:34

Marion De Vries was born on December 20, 1909, west of Pella, Iowa. He was the third of four children that were born to Edward and Sarah Van Wyngarden De Vries.

Marion received his grade school education at the West Silver Grove Country Grade School near Pella and attended Pella Public High School. As a young lad he continued to live with his parents on their farm where he assumed an active role in farming following the illness of his father.

On August 23, 1933, Marion and Leona Florence Van Ginkel were united in marriage at Iowa Falls, Iowa. They kept their marriage a secret for one year and lived separately with their respective parents. Eventually they shared their announcement and continued to farm west of Pella.

In December of 1935 they moved into Pella and Marion and Leona began working at the Pella Produce Company. Leona's health then began to fail due to a chronic lung affliction. For several years Marion drove truck hauling eggs to Chicago, Illinois, making as many as five trips a week. Later he made butter at the creamery and had a local egg route until becoming an employee at the Rolscreen Company in Pella. Marion was a loyal employee at the Rolscreen Company until his retirement at the age of 63 years.

During this time Marion and Leona moved into the home they had built at 413 Union Street in 1958. Marion was very proud of the home he had designed.

On December 22, 1979, Leona passed away at the age of 68 years.

On March 19, 1982, he was united in marriage with Gladys Antoinette Van Zante Van Dyk, a retired surgical nurse supervisor, at his home in Pella. Marion and Gladys made their residence there, their entire married life. Marion and Gladys enjoyed traveling together and during their married life made as many as 24 trips together. Then Gladys' health began to decline. With the assistance of Marion she was able to remain in their home until becoming a resident at the Griffin Nursing Center in January of 1999.

She passed away on January 2, 2000, at the age of 89 years. Both of Marion's marriages were characterized by his loyalty and faithfulness in caring for his wife.

Marion continued to enjoy the later years of his life frequenting, on a very regular basis, eating establishments in Pella and the local area. Even at his advanced age he was still able and considered it a privilege to be able to drive his own car.

Then in September of 2008 signs of his age began to reflect it. He was then cared for in facilities and on Friday morning, January 16, 2009, passed away at the Kanavagh House in Des Moines, Iowa. Marion had just celebrated his 99th birthday on December 20, 2008.

Marion is survived by his younger sister, Evelyn (Ralph) Moes, presently of Pleasant Hill, Iowa; a brother-in-law, Lloyd Van Zante and his wife, Nettie of Pella; four nieces and one nephew and their spouses: Vera (De Vries) and Lester Bach, Robert and Nancy De Vries, Karen (De Vries) and Warren Whitehead all of the State of Washington, Eileen (Moes)and R. Lee Cron of Altoona, Iowa and Greta (Moes) and Dennis Schnathorst of Newton, Iowa.

Marion was preceded in death by his wives, Leona F. De Vries and Gladys A. De Vries; his parents, Edward and Sarah De Vries; his parents-in-law, Ed and Julia Van Iperen Van Ginkel; his oldest brother, Louis De Vries and his wife, Selia (Van Den Berg); his older sister, Margaret and her husband, Abraham P. Bogaards; his brother-in-law, Ralph Moes; three sisters-in-law: Clara (Van Zante) Thorson, Ethel (Van Zante) Gosselink and Freda (Van Zante) Hoeksema; and a niece, Sheila (Moes) Kearns.

Marion had enjoyed bowling and was a faithful member of the First Reformed Church in Pella his entire lifetime.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery at Pella

Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home