Terlouw, Rev. Lester A.

TERLOUW, VOSS, VAN WEELDEN

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/21/2005 at 17:38:02

A celebration of life service was held for Rev. Lester A. Terlouw, 77, of Cantril, November 9 at the Bentonsport Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Larry Terlouw officiated. The body was cremated.

He was born April 29, 1925 near Pella to Andrew J. and Nellie Voss Terlouw. He married Louise Van Weelden January 22, 1948 in Pella.

He graduated from Pella High School, Central College and Western Seminary, Holland, Mich. He was an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America and served pastorates in Chicago, Ill. and Pompano Beach, Fla. He had taught at Eddyville High School and coached baseball at Central College and had been a partner and bookkeeper in Van Gorp Manufacturing Co., Pella. He and his wife moved to Cantril in 1985 and he held services in the historic Bentonsport Presbyterian Church each summer.

He served in the U.S. Army in Europe during WWII, including the Battle of the Bulge. He was Chaplain of Russell-Strait Post No. 483 American Legion, Milton and was past First District and Iowa Department Chaplain in the Legion.

He was a member of Cantril Lion's Club, Cantril Library Board, Advisory Committee for Van Buren County Public Health Nursing Service and had served on the Villages of Van Buren Board. He was active in the Bentonsport Development Association and with his wife had operated the lunchroom in the Greef Building in Bentonsport.

He died November 5, 2002 at Van Buren County Hospital in Keosauqua.

He is survived by his wife; a son: Rev. Larry Terlouw and wife Cindy of Holland, MI; three daughters: Lana Derksen and husband Gary of Choctow, OK, Linda Stankus and husband Don of Clarkston, MI, and Letha Glas and husband Don of Seattle, WA; eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and a sister, Sophie Swank of Pella.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers: Gerald and John Terlouw; and two infant children.

Arrangements were handled by Pedrick Funeral Homes in Keosauqua.

Memorials to the family may be left at the funeral home or mailed to the family at P.O. Box 216, Cantril, IA-52542.

The Pella Chronicle, November 22, 2002