Marvin Zylstra, 87

Marvin Zylstra, 87, of Pella, passed away Thurs-day morning, Nov. 15, 2018, at The Cottages. Funeral services were Wednesday, Nov. 21, at 10:30 a.m. at Covenant Reformed Church, Pella. Interment was in Oakwood Cemetery, Pella. Memorial contributions are suggested for the Covenant Reformed Church.

Paul Marvin Zylstra was the fourth of nine children born to Paul and Gertie (Vanden Hoek) Zylstra. He was born Mar. 3, 1931, on their farm north of Lynnville. Marv, as he was known, attended country schools and graduated from Sully High School on May 19, 1949.

In February 1952, he was inducted into the United States Armed Forces. During the Korean War, Marvin was stationed at Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX, and while on furlough he was united in marriage with Celia Arlene Van Kooten on June 26, 1952, at the Sully Christian Reformed Church. To this union three children were born: David Lee, Rodney Dwight, and Brenda Kay.

Following his discharge in February 1954, they began farming near Kellogg. In 1958, they moved to Pella, and Marv enrolled at Central College for a short time. Marv began working as a welder, and in 1960, he started his own shop, known as Zylstra’s Welding Inc. Celia was the bookkeeper, and the shop remains in operation within the family today, an acquired skill that Marv taught his next generation coming up. Marv simply loved his work and served farmers and the general public well until he retired in 2010. His interests included Allis Chalmers tractors and farm equipment. Due to health issues, Marv and Celia became residents at Vriendschap Village in April 2016. Then with further declining health issues, they moved to The Cottages in September 2017. Celia passed away there Apr. 9, 2018.

Marvin is survived by three children: David (Phyllis) Zylstra of Pella, Rodney (Sharon) Zylstra of Pella, and Brenda Suter of Norwalk, OH; nine grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Of his original family Marvin leaves two brothers and a sister: Wendall (Dorothy) Zylstra of Alamo, TX, Delores Van Rees, Claude (Joan) Zylstra, all of Pella; and the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Nellie Zylstra, Harris and Grace Van Kooten all of Pella, Muriel (Van Kooten) and Gary Tromp of Kentwood, MI, Clarine Van Kooten of Sully; and a special cousin of Celia’s, Denny Dieleman of Ankeny.

Marvin  was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Tim Suter; a great-granddaughter, Brooke Louise Goodyk; his parents; the following siblings and their spouses: his sister Bertha Eunice who died in 1927, his brother Carol Zylstra who died at birth in 1939, William John and Bertha Zylstra, Orville Zylstra, Mary Lou and her husbands, Gareth Vande Kieft and Merle Van Steenis, Judy (Claude) Zylstra, his brother-in-law, Gary Van Rees; his parents-in-law,  Roy and Nellie (Dieleman) Van Kooten; and a brother-in-law, Donald Van Kooten.

Marvin was baptized and made profession of his faith at Sully Christian Reformed Church. He was a former member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella where he had served as a member of the council and volunteered for other tasks; and was presently a member of Covenant Reformed Church in Pella.

Marvin shared his faith openly and often.

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