Walstra, Dennis "Denny" John 1949-2019

WALSTRA, JONKMAN, DENHERDER

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

Dennis “Denny” Walstra, 70, of Sioux Center, Iowa died Sunday, May 26, 2019 at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Memorial service will be held at 3:00PM Saturday, June 1, 2019 at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Reverend Dr. Travis Else and Reverend Stephen Breen officiating.

A prayer service for family and friends will be held on Saturday at 2:00PM at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center.

Visitation will be held on Friday, May 31th from 5:00 – 7:00 PM with family present at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Christian Education Fund or Dordt University.

Dennis John Walstra was born on April 6, 1949 in Chicago, IL, the son of Daniel and Marion (Jonkman) Walstra. He attended Roseland Christian School and Chicago Christian High School in Chicago, IL. Denny then attended Dordt College in Sioux Center, IA graduating with a degree in Business Administration. While attending Dordt, He met and later married Donna Jean Den Herder on July 24, 1970, at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center, IA. They were blessed with three children Angela, Mindy, and Daniel. Denny and Donna created, owned, and operated Walstra Plumbing & Heating in Sioux Center for 36 years until his death.

He was a charter member of Covenant Christian Reformed Church and served multiple terms as both a Deacon and Elder. He later became a member of The First Reformed Church of Sioux Center, where he was active as an Elder and sang in the choir.

Denny was very involved with the community serving as Mayor of Sioux Center for over 15 years. He served in numerous other ways including being a member of the Jaycees, Chamber of Commerce, Sioux Center City Council, American Public Power Association, and the Energy/Environment, and National Resources Committee of the National League of Cities in Washington D.C. Additionally, he served his country in the United States Army Reserves from 1969-1975 and later the Iowa Army National Guard from 1977-1984. He was also a firm believer and supporter of Christian education and served on the National Advisory Council and Executive Board of Dordt University and the Christian School Board.

Donna and Denny traveled extensively both domestically and internationally whether by plane, boat, motorcycle, RV or fast car. Other interests and hobbies included: golfing, fishing, gardening, and especially spending time with his family and friends. He positively impacted the lives of many in his community. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.

Denny is survived by his wife of over 48 years, Donna Walstra of Sioux Center, IA; three children, Angela (Reinhold) Llerena of South Barrington, IL, Mindy (Craig) Hummel of Ballwin, MO, and Dan (Lori) Walstra of Sioux Center; eight grandchildren; Annika, Nate, Willem, Ian, Bennett, Madalin, Isabelle, and Jonah, three siblings; Cindy Bykerk of Demotte, IN Lucille Walstra of Demotte, IN and Roger (Kim) Walstra of Muskegon, MI; and numerous beloved extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Marion Walstra.

Source: Memorial Funeral Home online obituary.