Category Archives: Obituaries

Erma Ver Ploeg, 87, passed away at her home in Sedona, AZ, on Jan. 8, 2021. Socially-distanced visitation with masks required will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23, at Garden Chapel Funeral Home in Pella where a private family service will also be held. In lieu of flowers, please give to Alzheimer’s Disease...

After declining health, LaDonna Rooda, 87, of Newton, passed away on Jan. 9, 2021, at Mercy Hospice in Johnston. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, at Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella. Masks and social distancing are required. Memorials may be given to Community Heights Alliance Church in Newton. LaDonna Belle (Bieshaar) Rooda...

Stanley W. Hoogeveen, 95, of Pella and formerly of Sully, passed away Dec. 31, 2020. Family funeral service was held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 2, at Sully Christian Reformed Church. Memorials are designated for Sully Christian School and Megan’s Legacy, c/o Mike Hoogeveen, PO Box 343, Sully, IA 50251. Stanley Willis Hoogeveen was born...

Berneda “Bea” Oswalt, 92, of Sully, died Jan. 2, 2021. A private graveside service was held Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Sully Cemetery. Most of the summer of 1928, her mother Alice (Baarda) Vonk sat in front of a block of ice, placed in a metal washtub with a fan blowing over it, keeping cool during her...

Merlyn Ray Elscott, 70, of Newton, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on Dec. 29, 2020, following a year-long battle with cancer. A private graveside service was held at Sully Cemetery, Monday, Jan. 4. Merlyn was born Feb. 14, 1950, in Oskaloosa. He was the second of six children born to Glen and Verna (Vander Beek) Elscott....

Bruce Ervin Walker was born Oct. 7, 1935, in Des Moines to Ervin H. and Freda Fern (Cooper) Walker. He died Dec. 24, 2020, at the age of 85 in Mission, TX. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 9, at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Monroe. Burial will follow at Silent City...

Dick Vander Laan, 83, of Pella, suffered a stroke at his home on Christmas Day and passed away Dec. 26, 2020, at Pella Regional Health Center. Funeral services will be held Saturday, Jan. 2, at 10 a.m. at Calvary Christian Reformed Church, Pella. Interment will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery, Pella. Public visitation without family...