Swank, Marvin Earl 1922-2012

SWANK, VAN GENDEREN, TER LOUW, VANDER KAMP, VANDER MOLEN, KLYNSMA

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:37

Marvin Swank
July 10, 1922 - February 12, 2012

Marvin Earl Swank was born July 10, 1922, to Will and Cora (Van Genderen) Swank on a farm west of Harvey, Iowa. He passed away on February 12, 2012, at the Griffin Nursing Center in Knoxville, Iowa. Marvin was raised on a farm southeast of Sully. He attended the Rieder School in Jasper County through the sixth grade. Later he and his family lived northwest of Killduff where he graduated from the eighth grade at the Elk Creek Independent School. On September 28, 1944, Marvin was united in marriage with Sophia Ann Ter Louw at the home of her parents in Marion County. It was a double wedding ceremony with Marvin’s sister, Dorothy, who married Ralph Vander Kamp. To this union, a daughter, Joyce, was born.

Marvin was engaged in farming the family farm south of Sully for forty years. Farming was his life, and he was involved in both livestock and grain production. Marvin was a member of the First Reformed Church in Sully since 1927. He served on the consistory, was active in Men’s Brotherhood, and had been a Sunday School teacher. He was also involved in a jail ministry and was a member of the Gideon’s. Marvin and Sophie Ann moved from their farm to Sully in 1979. Later, in 1999, they moved to Pella. Marvin and Sophie Ann entered the Griffin Nursing Center in 2007.

Those left to cherish Marvin’s memory are the following: his wife of 67 years, Sophia Ann of Knoxville; his daughter, Joyce, and her husband, Byron C. Vander Molen of Pella; granddaughter Tammy (Don) Klynsma; grandson Russell (Mary) Vander Molen; granddaughter Robyn Vander Molen; great-grandchildren Jeffrey, Dylan, and Sophie Klynsma, Mason, Jocelyn, and Tessa Vander Molen, and Blake and Zackery Vander Molen. He is also survived by his sister, Dorothy Vander Kamp of Sully, and sisters-in-law Leona Ter Louw of Pella and Louise Ter Louw of Edmond, Oklahoma. He was preceded in death by his parents, his parents-in-law, his brothers Lester Swank and Marion (Florence) Swank, his brothers-in-law John E. Ter Louw, Gerald (Nellie) Ter Louw, Lester “Buck” Ter Louw, and Ralph Vander Kamp.

Funeral services were held Thursday, February 16, 2012 at the First Reformed Church in Sully. Burial took place at the Sully Cemetery. The Pella Garden Chapel Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

To plant a tree in memory of Marvin Swank, please visit Tribute Store. ~ The Pella Chronicle, 02 Mar 2012.