Marjorie “Marge” J. Van Gilst, 81, of Newton died Monday, Aug. 6, 2018, at Nelson Ma-nor Nursing Home. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 13, at Community Heights Alliance Church in Newton. The family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 12, at the church. Memorials to Nelson Manor may be left at the church during the service or at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton.
Marge, the daughter of John and Angelina (Kemink) Davids, was born Aug. 7, 1936, in Denver, CO. She graduated from Denver Christian High School and then worked for Sweetman Realty. Marge met Raymond Van Gilst while he was on a vacation in Colorado. They were later married on Dec. 27, 1956, in Denver and made their home in Newton. Marge was a homemaker and farmer’s wife, raising the couple’s four lively boys. She was an active member of the Community Heights Alliance Church where she worked in the kitchen for weddings, funerals, and Bible schools. She was also a Sunday school teacher and a wedding coordinator. Marge liked playing the piano and belonged to a group called “The Harmanettes.” They performed in area nursing homes. Marge and Raymond enjoyed gospel and bluegrass music and visiting with friends.
Marge is survived by her four sons: Raymond (Donice) Van Gilst of Sacramento, CA, Don (Deb) Van Gilst of rural Newton, Bob (Cheryl) Van Gilst of Albuquerque, NM, and David (Dorcas) Van Gilst of Pine Bluff, AR; 15 grandchildren, Jonathon (Anna), Nathaniel (Chantelle), Abigail (Ryan), Christy (Chris), Cody (Kacy), Daniel (Riley), Lisa (Tim), Lindsay, Katie (Drew), Lauren, Emily (Josh), Grace, Sarah, Elizabeth (John), and Abi (Will); seven great-grandchildren, Levi, Adelynn, Cayden, Emerson, Sutton, Isaac, and Tucker; and siblings, Tom (Veralyn) Davids of California and Norman (Char) Davids of Colorado Springs, CO. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Raymond, in 2010.
