Wichers, Marlin John 1927-2024

WICHERS, POPMA, VANBEEK

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/11/2024 at 13:30:21

Mr. Marlin Wichers, age 96, of Orange City, passed away on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at the Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City.

A visitation with the family present will be held on Wednesday, October 9, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City. A prayer service will take place on Thursday, October 10, at 9:30am, at the funeral home, followed by interment at the Sherman Township Cemetery near Maurice. There will be a memorial service on Thursday, at 11:00am, at the First Reformed Church in Maurice with the Rev. Wick Hubers officiating.

Marlin John was born on December 12, 1927, on a farm near Maurice, the son of Garrett and Margaret (Popma) Wichers. He was raised in the Maurice area, where he graduated from high school. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War, from 1951 to 1953.

On June 22, 1953, he married Darlene Joan Van Beek at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. They were blessed with two children, Dawn and Rallyn. They made their home on a farm near Orange City, where he farmed for most of his life, and later worked at Southtown Grocery in Orange City. Darlene passed away on March 14, 2019, after more than 65 years of marriage.

Marlin was a member of the First Reformed Church of Maurice, where he served as an elder and deacon. He also belonged to the Pressman-Kosters American Legion Post in Orange City. For many years he played the steel guitar with his wife and brother, Allen Wichers, for the residents of local nursing homes. When he was younger, he enjoyed flying his airplane, and even built his own ultralight that he flew for many years.

Survivors include his two children and their spouses, Dawn and Ken Beukelman, of Orange City; and Rallyn and Mary Wichers, of Tea, South Dakota; five grandchildren and their spouses, Jamie and Michelle Beukelman, Chad and Amber Beukelman, Shawndra and Philip Kuiken, Karen and Tony Korver, and Cassandra and Chris Rollman; twelve great-grandchildren; two brothers, Leon Wichers; and Myron Wichers, and his wife, Bonnie; two brothers-in-law, Rev. Frank Pott and Donald Engeltjes; and a sister-in-law, Eileen Wichers.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by five sisters, Irene (Carl) Zeublis, Joyce (Jake) Siemonsma, Betty Pott, Lola Heys, and Alma Engeltjes; four brothers, Russell (Geneva) Wichers, Donald (Nancy) Wichers, Allen Wichers, and Robert (Wanda) Wichers; and two sisters-in-law, Lois Wichers and Hermina Wichers.

Memorials will be given to the Orange City Christian School and Atlas in Orange City.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.