Ver Ploeg, Alonzo 1909-2001

VER PLOEG, VANDER WILT, VAN WYK

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 8/11/2005 at 21:22:54

PELLA - Alonzo Ver Ploeg, 92, of Pella, died Friday, April 6, at Pella Regional Health Center in Pella.

His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First Reformed Church in Pella, the Rev. Kenneth A. Dykstra and the Rev. Ronald Sikkema officiating. Burial: Oakwood Cemetery, Pella, with military rites by American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella Memorials: First Reformed Church, Pella. Visiting hours continue until 4 p.m. today at Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella, with family present at the church 6:30-8 p.m.

Alonzo Ver Ploeg was born Jan. 8, 1909, north of Pella, to James Engle and Gertrude Vander Wilt Ver Ploeg. He attended Belle Country Grade School near Pella, riding his horse to school, and graduated from Pella High School in 1927. He then began working with his brother, Forrest, running portable milling machines, which they did until 1942. Lonnie also served as Marion County Assessor.

In June 1942, he enlisted in the United States Army. He was stationed in California before being sent to the Philippines during World War II. In November 1945, he was honorably discharged.

On June 18, 1946, he married Geraldine Van Wyk at her home in Pella. Lonnie managed Sully Cooperative Exchange in Sully until 1948. He and Geraldine then owned Sully Cafe in Sully, which they operated until 1952. Lonnie began farming. They farmed northwest of Killduff for two years. In 1954 they moved to the Ver Ploeg family farm northwest of Pella.

He farmed there for many years before inventing the stump cutter. He and his brother Harry then owned and operated Ver Ploeg Brothers Stump Cutting together for several years. In July 1990, he retired, and they moved into Pella. In November 2000, Lonnie moved to the Sheltered Care Unit of Pella Regional Health Center. He was a member of First Reformed Church in Pella. He was an original board member for the Rural Electric Cooperative Exchange, and was a member of the VFW and the Van Veen-Van Hemert American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella. He enjoyed tinkering in his shop. He was proud of his 1902 Oldsmobile replica, which he drove in Tulip Time parades.

He is survived by his wife, Geraldine; five children and spouses: Alan and Rita De Boer Ver Ploeg of Laramie, Wyo., Mary and Robert Vander Wilt of Pella, Bryan and Deborah Van Wyk Ver Ploeg of Ankeny, Elaine and Donald Derringer of Pella, and Brenda and Tracy Faro of Albuquerque, N.M.; 12 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; three step-great-grandchildren; a sister-in-law: Neva Van Zante of Pella; his wife's brothers and sisters-in-law: Cornelius and Leta Mae Van Wyk of Pella, Richard and Helen Van Wyk of New Hope, Minn., Myron and Johnita Van Wyk of Pella, Raymond and Gertrude Van Wyk of Otley, Margaret Van Wyk of Prairie City, Ada Van Wyk of Pella, and Evelyn Boat of Pella.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Alan James Ver Ploeg; a step-grandson, Marty Derringer; his parents; four brothers: Elton, Dick,

The Oskaloosa Herald, April 9, 2001