SLYKHUIS, Marvin W. (1935-2012)

SLYKHUIS

Posted By: Don Boucher (email)
Date: 8/11/2012 at 08:26:47

Obituary from The Des Moines Register newspaper, Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA on 8-11-2012:

Marvin Willis Slykhuis was on born May 5, 1935 to Henry and Jenny (Van Ryswyk) Slykhuis. He worked building highways and railroads then journeyed west to become a cowboy. He served in the Army for three years before sustaining an injury that left him severely hearing impaired.

In 1960 Marvin returned to Iowa to farm and in 1962 he married his best friend for life Patricia Hoch. To their union were born six children.

In addition to farming, Marvin worked as a welder and over the road trucker for Eagle Iron Works in Des Moines. He and Pat also drove school buses for Melcher-Dallas Community Schools. In 1977, Marvin and Pat moved to an acreage north of Knoxville and began working at 3M Company for 18 years.

Throughout his life, Marvin enjoyed motorcycling with Pat and his children, as well as hunting, fishing, gardening and farming. He was always a cowboy at heart and loved to travel, camping all over the United States. He loved dancing, wood working, and "fixing" anything.

His sense of humor was with him until the end. Marvin lost his battle with lung cancer August 5th, 2012. Marvin is survived by: his wife Pat; their six children- Kim (Mark Molloy), Mike (Lynn Marshall), Patrick (Tina Russell ), Bonnie, Jenny (Marty McDowell), and Brian (Maggie Phipps); eight grandchildren- Mary, James, Zoey, Tristan, and Samantha Slykhuis, and Megan, Melissa and Scott Molloy; and seven step-grandchildren-Amanda, Heather and Rachael Howieson, Justin and Jennifer McDowell, and Colton and Dylan Beal.

A service celebrating his life will be at 10 a.m. Monday August 13 at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Knoxville. Visitation begins at 9 a.m. Memorials can be made to Hospice of Pella or the family.