Daniel Van Wyk, 87, of Pella, passed away Thursday evening, Nov. 14, 2019, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House. Funeral ser-vices were held Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 10:30 a.m. at Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Interment followed in Oakwood Cemetery in Pella with military honors by the Van Veen- Van Hemert American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella.
Memorial contributions are suggested for the Pella Christian Grade School or Pella Christian High School.
His memory will be cherished by his loving wife, Alb (Stursma) Van Wyk; his four children and spouses: Loren (Jean) Van Wyk, Stuart (Kathy) Van Wyk, Krista (Evan) Van Gelder, Jana (John) Magnussen, all of Pella; three stepchildren: Jaci (Stursma) and Ken Craver of Pella, Jim Stursma and Susan of New Sharon, and Jerry Stursma of Otley; 19 grandchildren; 32 great-grand-children; brother, Nelson (Jean) Van Wyk of Pella; sister, Marilou (Ron) Houk of Pella; and sister-in-law, Marilyn Van Wyk of Oskaloosa; along with the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Junella (Peter) Lanser of Denver, CO, John and Lois Lanser of Pella, Marvin and Ruth Lanser of Holland, MI; Goldie (Gritters) Dingeman, Edgar and Regina Gritters, and Arnie Gritters, all of Pella..
Dan was preceded in death by his first wife, Harriet Lanser; his parents; his brother, Carroll Van Wyk; his parents-in-law, John and Elizabeth (Bruxvoort) Lanser; the following brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Mattie and Henry Jansen, Brant and Jo Lanser, Arie and Joanna Lanser, Durky and Gerrit Van Kooten, Nellie and Cornie Van Maaren, Henry and Clara Lanser, Joann and Ludolph Zylstra, Betty and Dewey Nikkel, Peter Lanser; parents-in-law, Rev. Martin and Jeanette Gritters; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Frank and Revena Gritters, Duane Dingeman, and Nancy Gritters.
Daniel Van Wyk, son of Louis and Christine (Dieleman) Van Wyk, was born Apr. 7, 1932, in Sully. Dan was the oldest of four siblings, and they moved to a farm near Prairie City when Dan was three years old. His parents moved back to Sully when Dan was in fifth grade so he could attend Sully Christian School and graduated from the eighth grade. Dan was baptized and made profession of his faith in the Sully Christian Reformed Church.
Sept. 11, 1952, Dan was united in marriage to Harriet Kathryn Lanser. Shortly after their marriage, he was sent overseas with the military to serve in Korea for two years at the closing of the Korean War. While there, he learned to run bulldozers, a skill he used often after his return to the United States. When Dan was discharged, he returned to Pella where they were blessed with four children: Loren Douglas, Stuart Lee, Krista Lynn, and Jana Kay. Dan and Harriet farmed south of Pella for three years and then moved to Kellogg where they farmed for eight years. In 1965, they returned to Pella and farmed west of town.
Dan loved farming and working with machinery of all kinds. He took special pride in his tractors, trucks, and pickups with lots of chrome. He also loved “playing” in the dirt with his loader, bulldozer, and excavator. In later years, he spent many hours volunteering his large equipment skills helping to build the Pella Christian High School and Federated Fellowship Church. Dan and Harriet enjoyed many days camping with friends, visiting with family, and traveling together.
When Harriet’s health began to decline in 2005, Dan faithfully cared for her until she passed away in December 2010 after 58 years of marriage. Dan lived alone for a few years, but in 2013 God brought Alberdeen “Alb” (Gritters) Stursma into his life, and they were married on Sept. 5, 2013. They thoroughly enjoyed each other’s company and thanked God for bringing them together.
Dan was a member of Calvary Christian Reformed Church and was involved in many volunteer activities such as Cadet counselor, serving as an elder and deacon, and being active in Bible studies.
Dan was always so thankful to have his family living close around and commented how special it was the whole family could get together every month for Sunday lunches. Dan talked often about how he belonged body and soul, in life and in death, to his faithful Savior, Jesus Christ. He prayed daily for his children, grandchildren, and great- grandchildren to know the Lord and put their faith and trust in Him.
