Merlin Kooistra, 62

Merlin Kooistra, 62, of Pella died Sept. 23, 2019. Memorial service was Friday, Sept. 27, at First Baptist Church in Pella. Interment was in Oakwood Cemetery, Pella. Memorials have been designated for Pella Community Foundation for Wonder Spelen.

Merlin Dale Kooistra was born Jan. 12, 1957, to David and Pauline (Vander Wilt) Kooistra in Oskaloosa.

He grew up near Sully and was a 1976 graduate of Lynnville-Sully High School. On the Monday after graduation, he started working for Vermeer Manufacturing, which lasted 38 years, until he retired due to health issues in 2014.

Mar. 28, 1977, he was united in marriage to Joy Bogaards at the First Baptist Church in Pella. They were blessed with two sons: Darren and Darrell.

Merlin loved collecting toys and model tractors similar to the ones he watched his father use when he was a boy. During Tulip Time, he was always the first in line for poffertjes, and he loved the St. Mary’s fish fry every year. He enjoyed the Hy-Vee Breakfast Crew.  He also enjoyed spending time outdoors, whether it was sitting around a campfire, traveling, or hunting pheasants.

He never missed a family event and loved spending time with his grandchildren.

Those left to cherish his memory are: His wife, Joy Kooistra; two sons, Darren (Jodi) Kooistra, Myah, Jase, and soon-to-be #3 and Darrell (Victoria) Kooistra, Kenneth, Katelyn, and Kaleb. He is also survived by his mother, Pauline Kooistra; his sisters: Donna (Harlan) Terlouw and Verla (Greg) Hoekstra; and Joy’s siblings: June (Ken) Hoksbergen, Randy (Joyce) Bogaards, and Peter D. (Katherine) Bogaards. He was preceded in death by his father, David Kooistra.

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