Zylstra, Judy (Brummel) 1944-2009

ZYLSTRA, BRUMMEL, THATCHER, VANDEN HOEK

Posted By: Ernie Braida (email)
Date: 1/13/2010 at 10:08:26

Judith Ann Brummel was born on August 14, 1944, at the Mahaska County Hospital in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She was the third of four children that were born to Lester John and Bonnie Louise Thatcher Brummel.

Judy attended a rural Mahaska County, Iowa country grade school, graduated from Grant Elementary School in Oskaloosa and from Oskaloosa High School with the Class of 1962.

Later that year on December 29, 1962, she married Claude Zylstra, the youngest child of Paul and Gertrude Vanden Hoek Zylstra, at the First Christian Church in Oskaloosa. To this union three children were born: Janet Sue, Thomas Claude and Timothy Jay.

Their first home was in DeRidder, Louisiana before moving to Sioux Center, Iowa. They then lived in Pella, Iowa for four years until moving to Whitinsville, Massachusetts. Judy worked outside of the home in the offices of Whitinsville Christian School and Evangelical Christian School. After four years they moved to Memphis, Tennessee where they lived until returning to Pella where they lived for the past 30 years.

Upon returning to Pella, Judy worked in the office of Van Gorp Corporation before working at De Waard and Van Maanen, CPA, which later became Van Maanen & Associates. She retired from active employment there in 2006.

Judy was involved with many church activities. That which gave her the most pleasure was working with the Little Lambs (2-3 year old children) of the Coffee Break program in her church and getting the mentoring program, Kids Hope USA started between Faith Christian Reformed Church and Madison Elementary School in Pella.

On Wednesday afternoon, April 22, 2009, she passed away at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella at the age of 64 years.

Judy is survived by her husband, Claude; their three children: Janet and her husband Joe Miller of Centennial, Colorado, Tom Zylstra of Honolulu, Hawaii, Tim Zylstra of Cameron, North Carolina; and six grandchildren: Daniel, Hannah, Abbey and Sarah Miller, Ashley and Raven Zylstra.

Those of her original family left to cherish her memory are her mother, B. Louise Brummel, a resident at Vriendschap Village in Pella; her brother, B. Lee Brummel and his wife, Jackie of Dallas, Texas; a sister-in-law, Charlene (Kenneth) Brummel of Davenport, Iowa; plus many other sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, uncles and aunts, nephews and nieces and cousins.

Judy was preceded in death by her father, Lester J. Brummel; her parents-in-law, Paul and Gertie Zylstra, her brother, Kenneth John Brummel and her younger sister, Marilyn Jean Brummel.

Interment: Oakwood Cemetery at Pella

Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home