Pella, Iowa - John Edward Van Woerkom was

born February 8, 1931. The first-born son of Bastian and Gertie (Vande Wall)

Van Woerkom. He was named after the grandfather (he never knew) who drowned in

the Skunk River in Lynnville, Iowa. He was baptized and made profession of

faith at First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa.

When John went to school, he

could not speak English because the only language he heard spoken at home was

Dutch. He learned very quickly! During his education John attended 7 schools in

8 eight years. When he completed 8th grade, he went to get a job at

the age of 14. He was hired as a farm hand for $5 a day.

John went into service in 1951,

served as an M.P. in Austria, achieved the rank of Corporal, and was honorably

discharged. When he came home, he married the love of his life, Louise Joan

Newendorp, on Thursday, November 17, 1953. The newlyweds made their home east

of Oskaloosa and, John worked for the Gray brothers as a farm hand. They were

blessed with six children: Bonnie, Jan, Karen & Kenny, and Jay & Jon;

19 grandchildren who knew him at "Popo", and 43 great grandchildren who called

him "Silly Papa", for a family total of 90! What a wonderful legacy! John was

so proud of his family!

John enjoyed sports,

especially fast pitch softball, when he was young. It was his delight to

encourage and coach the young guys at First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa.

He found joy in watching his sons and daughters play on many teams in Oskaloosa.

John and Louise rarely missed an activity that the grandchildren participated

in. John even made it to watch some great grands play last summer. Always a

great cheerleader for his family but also for any Pella Christian team. Christian

education was highly valued by John and Louise for their family. He served on several

boards in the school and the church in both Pella and Oskaloosa.

John was pretty adamant about staying

in his own home and as a family, we are greatly blessed that we could honor

that. Time spent around the table visiting over coffeetime or playing games was

always a special, and now treasured, time at the Van Woerkom house.

John's usual "goodbye" to his family and friends was

"zachtjes aan" (go slow) when you left the house.

John's faith was an important

part of his life, and he lived it daily in the way he treated other people. His

welcoming personality drew others to him, and he never knew a stranger.

Zachtjes aan Dad

John's family:

Bonnie and Warren Van

Wyngarden, Peoria

Cory and Sara Van Wyngarden

Roan, Ella, Emme

Will and Allison Van Wyngarden

Kaden, Kirby, Kynlee, Kaiya

Mark and Jessica Van Wyngarden

Ben, Brady, Beau, Brock

Alex and Jentri Van Wyngarden

Ada, Aaron, Alyza, Alivia, Asa

Jan and Kevin Laverman,

Sully

Ashley and Dan Drusch

Zoey

Louise

Clarissa Laverman

Jared

Laverman

Karen and Don Branderhorst,

Otley

Katie and Matthew Miller

Kellan, Kensington

Stacie and Bret Fynaardt

Hudson, Eleanor

Lindsey and Nathan Wolff

Blakely, Delaney

Ken and Janiece (Meulpolder)

Van Woerkom, Pella

Mandy and Chad Klyn

Grant, Norah, Amelia

Mindy and Trevor Jones

Lucy, Gwen, Ruby

Kalie and Devin Dennis

Thomas and Angie Van Woerkom

Parker, Cooper, Hadley

Jay and Jill (Hougham) Van

Woerkom, Pella

Kendall and Jesse

Ried

Wyatt

Jon and Glenda (Van Wyk) Van

Woerkom, Pella

Nicole and Jon Yoder

Mason, Bennett, Ellie

Emily and Kurt Boender

Jackson, Jayden, Lane

Taylor and William Vande Voort

Everly, Theo, Sloan, Lucy

Brooke Van Woerkom

John is also survived by his

sisters-in-law Rose Van Woerkom and Karen Newendorp.

John was preceded in death

by his wife Louise, his parents Bastian and Gertie Van Woerkom, parents-in-law Walter

and Marie Newendorp, his siblings Sylvia (Bill) Quick, Larry Van Woerkom, and

Louise's siblings Wilbur (Gladys) Newendorp, Beulah (Dormand) Arkema, Dorthea

(Dwight) Wanders, John Newendorp.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am, Tuesday, March 3, at the Cornerstone Church. Visitation will begin at 2:00 pm, Monday, March 2, also at Cornerstone Church, with family present from 4:00 - 6:00 pm. Memorials may be given to Hospice of Pella or Pella Christian Schools. The Garden Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.