Westra, Donald Leroy 1941-2017

WESTRA, POST, BRANDS

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

Mr. Donald Westra, age 75, of Hull, passed away on Tuesday, August 1, 2017, at the Hegg Memorial Hospital in Rock Valley.

There will be a funeral service on Saturday, August 5, at 10:00am, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Hull. The Rev. Carl Klompien will officiate. Interment will follow the service at the Hope Cemetery in Hull. Visitation will be after 4:00pm on Friday, with the family present from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the CHURCH.

Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Hull.

Donald Leroy was born on August 26, 1941, in Rock Valley, the son of Sam P. and Gertrude (Post) Westra. He was raised on a farm near Hull. He attended a country school, the Rock Valley Christian School, and the Boyden-Hull High School.

On March 26, 1962, he married the love of his life, Johanna Marie Brands. They made their home in Rock Valley until 1967 when they moved to an acreage on the west side of Hull. He was a cattle buyer, operating S. & D. Cattle Buyers with his father. He also farmed and worked at the local sales barns until multiple sclerosis forced him to retire.

Mr. Westra was a member of the First Christian Reformed Churches, first in Rock Valley, and then in Hull.

He enjoyed spending quality time with his twenty grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, especially at sporting events. He listened to and watched most church worship services and liked the old time country hymns. He followed the cattle and grain markets and was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota Twins, and Chicago Bears.

Don would usually spend his days in his chair looking through the window watching animals, people, and admiring Jo’s flowers. Their dog, Bea, was an important part of his life.

Left to cherish his memories are his wife of 55 years, six children, Randy (Sandy) Westra, of Hull; Deb (Bob) Vander Veen, of Urbana; Brad (friend, Mong) Westra, of Tea, South Dakota; Darrell (Lorna) Westra, of Hawarden; Pam (Joel) Niemeyer, of Zearing; and Bonnie (Dan) Ribbens, of Waukee; twenty grandchildren, Jessica (Darren) Bakker, Jennifer Vander Veen, Kelsey Westra, Tyler Westra, Robby Vander Veen, Matthew Westra, Brittany (Calvin) Maassen, Brandyn Niemeyer, Jeremy Vander Veen, Amber (Jesse) Vande Weerd, Allyson Westra, Bryce Niemeyer, Colin Westra, Christian Westra, Dalton Westra, McKenzie Niemeyer, Lizzie Westra, Jacob Ribbens, Jadyn Niemeyer, and Colton Niemeyer; six great-grandchildren, Rielly, Chasyn, Ashlynn, Breckken, Kenzlee, and Paisley; three brothers, Stan (JoAnn) Westra, Gary (Sandy) Westra, and Wes (Brenda) Westra, all of Hull; and a sister-in-law, Beth Westra, of Fulda, Minnesota.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Dwayne Westra; two sisters, Arlene Westra and Deana (Henry) Fluit; a sister-in-law, Hilene Westra; a nephew, Mitchell Westra; and a great-niece, Sarah Woitalewicz.

Memorials may be directed to the Hull Christian Elementary School and the Hull Ambulance Service.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.