Damstra, Ben 1938-2021

DAMSTRA, VOS, HOFMAN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/19/2022 at 10:09:07

MESA, AZ—Ben Damstra 83, of Mesa, AZ, formerly of Sioux Center, died Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, at Banner Baywood Medical Center in Mesa after a brief battle with pneumonia and complications brought on by previous strokes.
Ben was born May 5, 1938, to William and Engelena (Hofman) Damstra at the family farm near Sibley, IA. In 1940 they moved to a farm near Sheldon, IA, where he attended school through the eighth grade. Ben never made it to high school, he instead went right to work building steel bins as a teenager. On March 20, 1958, Ben and Pauline (Vos) were joined in marriage at First Reformed Church in Sheldon, IA. The couple then made their home in Sheldon, where Ben worked at the Farmers Coop Elevator. He then drove a route truck for Old Home Bread delivering to area towns. This led him to purchase half of the Auto Dine and move the family to Sioux Center in 1969. He owned and operated the restaurant and drive-in for five years. From there he went to the Siouxland Vet Clinic and then on to Nutrena Feeds with the Cargill Corporation. He worked for Cargill as a Field Representative for many years until his retirement. Ben was well-known on the gravel roads of Sioux and Lyon counties for driving an orange Citation or a white Celebrity (what he liked to call his “cash cows”) to well over 250,000 miles. He loved working with livestock and building relationships with the farmers. Ben and Pauline started wintering in Mesa, AZ, in 2011.
They were members of the Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center until they moved full time to Arizona in 2019. Ben’s passions in life included spending time with his wife, “Blondie.” They did many things together, most of which usually included work, or more work, as this seemed to be Ben’s real delight in life. His joys included working on anything mechanical as well as repairing and rebuilding cars, many times for family or friends; tending to and taking care of livestock, which often meant playing veterinarian; reading and learning about things that intrigued him the most; playing cards, or playing a fast-paced game of Wahoo with friends and family
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Pauline of Mesa, AZ; his two children, Roy (Shelley) Damstra of Sioux Center, IA, and Brian (Lisa) Damstra of Queen Creek, AZ; three grandchildren, Abby Damstra, Brooke (Zach) Schauf and Logan Damstra; three great-grandchildren, Charlie, Hutton and Cooper Schauf; and brothers, Julius (Marlene) Damstra of Rock Rapids, IA, Ron (Gayle) Damstra of Orange City, IA, and Don (Elaine) Damstra of Boyden, IA. He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Engelina Damstra; brother, Hilbert; and son, Lynn.
Source Northwest Iowa Revies of Oct 27, 2021.