Nieuwsma, Gelmer 1925-2002

NIEUWSMA, ANDRINGA, STURSMA

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/7/2005 at 15:32:10

PELLA - Gelmer Nieuwsma, 76, of Pella, died Saturday, May 11, at Pella Regional Health Center.

His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella, the Rev. Kenneth Schepel officiating. Burial: Oakwood Cemetery, Pella. Memorials: Second Christian Reformed Church or Hospice of Pella. Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella is in charge of arrangements.

Gelmer Nieuwsma was born Oct. 23, 1925, in Mahaska County near Peoria to Henry and Irene Andringa Nieuwsma. He attended Flemming Country Grade School near Taintor and completed eighth grade. He helped his father on the farm.

On June 14, 1950, he married Thressa Ruth Stursma at Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella.

He attended the Reformed Bible Institute in Grand Rapids, Mich., and graduated in 1952. While in college he was active in the RBI Choir and prison ministries. They moved the family back to Pella, where Gelmer worked at Wormhoudt Furniture until 1960. He then became a licensed insurance agent with the Prudential Company and retired in June 1990.

He was an active member of Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella. He was in the church choir and a quartet, and could play music by ear. He enjoyed rock collecting, fishing and woodworking, as well as playing golf.

He is survived by his wife, Thressa; six children and spouses: Judy and Rick Pringle of Pella, Gayle and Stuart Ver Meer of Pella, Ruth and Mike De Wild of Pella, Marilyn and Doug Van Zee of Pella, Gary and Anna Marie Sifuentes Nieuwsma of Matthews, N.C. and Steve and Julie Harsch Nieuwsma of Pella; 15 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two brothers, two sisters and spouses: Arvin and Luella Rozenboom Nieuwsma, Ruth and John Van Wyk, all of Oskaloosa, Norman and Mae Goemaat Nieuwsma and Lois Vos, all of Pella; and another sister-in-law, Martha Nieuwsma of Oskaloosa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Harold Nieuwsma; and a brother-in-law, Raymond Vos.

The Oskaloosa Herald, May 14, 2002