Valster, Abe

VALSTER, SYNHORST, BOTT

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/18/2005 at 20:55:08

Funeral services for Abe Valster, 70, of Harvey were held March 6 a the Rev. G. La Verne Hill officiating. Music provided by soloist Rev. Phil De Boef.

Honorary bearers were Tracy Charland, Mike Brown, Rick Bandstra, Gene De Heer, Jim LaFollette, Ron Riggen, John Adkins, Mike Johnson, Tom Bandstra, Ron Goemaat, Chris Mock, Ron Vandenberg, and Nelson Van Hulzen.

Abram Ben Valster was born on July 7, 1932, south of Pella. Abe was the third of four children that were born to his parents, Bastiaan (Ben) and Arvena Synhorst Valster.. His father was born in the Netherlands and his mother was born near Pella. Abe received his formal education at the West Amsterdam Country Grade School near Pella.

As a young man, he worked for a short time at Vermeer Manufacturing Company and the Rolscreen Company in Pella and then began farming with his parents. In 1952 Abe was inducted into the U.S. Army. He served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1954. Following his discharge he returned to Pella where he continued farming. Abe and his older brother, Jim, then began trucking and buying hogs. He remained in the trucking business, known as Valster Brothers, while living in the Durham neighborhood. Abe had lived there for 22 years.

Abe was a member of the American Legion at Knoxville; the Za-Ga-Zig Temple at Altoona and the Grand Lodge No. 229 of Iowa, A.F. & A.M. at Attica. March 3, 2003 he passed away at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella.

Abe is survived by his wife, Mavi (Bott) Valster of Harvey; three step-children: Tracy Charland and his wife, Reva of Oskaloosa; Troy Charland and his wife, Sarah of Rockford, Illinois; Nicholle Charland of Dubuque; three step grandchildren, two nieces, one nephew, eight great-nieces and great nephews.

Abe was preceded in death by his parents; Ben and Arvena, his two older; Cornie James Valster and James Arvin Valster, his brother-in-law; Eldred Adkins.

Memorials may be given for the Abe B. Valster Memorial Fund, to used at the discretion of the family.

Arrangements were handled by Van Dyke-Duven Funeral Home in Pella.

The Pella Chronicle, March 24, 2003