Vander Molen, Jacob

VANDER MOLEN, OZINGA, VAN WYK

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/21/2005 at 17:46:03

Funeral services for Jacob Vander Molen, 87, of Pella, formerly of Peoria, were held July 3 at the Peoria Christian Reformed Church in Peoria, Seminarian David Van Buren and Pastor Archie Vander Hart, officiating. Music was provided by organist Marge Fynaardt and a song sung by Gerald Rozenboom, Wavern Rozenboom and Dennis Rozenboom. Interment was at Peoria Cemetery in Peoria. Casket bearers were the "Grandsons".

Jacob Vander Molen, the second of nine children born to Martin and Tillie Ozinga Vander Molen, was born on September 20, 1914 near Peoria. Jake, as he was known, received his formal education at the Peoria Christian Grade School. His father died when Jake was 17 years of age leaving his mother with eight children and one unborn child, consequently at an early age Jake assumed the role of a patriarch. The Peoria Christian Grade School and the Peoria Christian Reformed Church both helped the family at that time and to this day Jake owed a debt of gratitude to both for their support.

Jake stayed with his mother until he was 24 years old and on February 15, 1939, he and Nellie Kathryn Van Wyk were married. To this union three children were born: Twylla Bess, Larry Willis and Maryan Ruth. They rented a farm from Nellie's parents, Lambert and Bertha Vos Van Wyk, where they settled for four years. After three more years of farming, he started Peoria Stockyards in 1946. He remained with the Peoria Stockyards until 1971 when he continued in the cattle buying business and clerking with Tri-County Auction. This business venture continued until 1998 when his age and health made it difficult for him to continue. Jake and Nellie, after living in Peoria for more than 40 years, moved to Pella in 1987 where they continued to reside the remainder of their 63 years of married life together.

They were residents at Hilltop Manor North until he became a resident in the Long Term Care Unit of the Pella Regional Health Center in November of 1999. He was cared for there and faithfully attended to by his wife, Nellie. He passed away there Saturday morning, June 29, 2002 at the age of 87 years, nine months and nine days in the presence of family. Jake's family has kept growing through the years.

Jake was a lifelong, faithful member of the Peoria Christian Reformed Church at Peoria where he served on the consistory for many years. During his lifetime he had served on the Peoria Christian Grade School Board, the Pella Christian High School Board and Christian Opportunity Center Board in Pella; was a voting board member at Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa; and on the board at the Montezuma Sale Barn in Montezuma.

Devotion to his Lord and to his family were Jake's greatest priorities in life. He will always be fondly remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend to all. Jake is now at home with his personal Saviour and would want to tell you that the Lord had blessed him and Nellie very bountifully.

He is survived by his wife, Nellie; three children and their spouses: Twylla B. and Willard Nieboer of Jenison, Mich.; Larry W. and Linda (Vande Voort) Vander Molen of Pella; and Maryan R. and Guy De Haan of Pella; 20 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Of his original family, Jake leaves three sisters: Anne and her husband Ralph Corbin of Buena Park, Calif.; Rachel and her husband Case Vander Hart; Martena (Raymond) De Groot all of Pella; and three sisters-in-law: Sylvia (Cecil Vander Molen), Mrs. Tony Langstraat; Leona (William) Vander Molen and Mabel (Louis) Vander Molen all of Pella.

Jake was preceded in death by his parents: his father who died in 1932 and his mother who died in 1946; his older sister, Margaret (Cornelius Boerefyn) who died in 1961; and his four brothers: Cecil Vander Molen who died in 1981, William Vander Molen on February 4, 1991, Ben Vander Molen on March 3, 1991 and Louis Vander Molen in 1992.

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

Memorials may be made to the Peoria Christian Grade School endowment fund at Peoria or the Pella Christian High School endowment fund at Pella.

The Pella Chronicle, July 19, 2002