Sophia Ann Swank, 94, of Knoxville and formerly of Sully, passed away Mon-day, Apr. 28, 2014, at the Comfort House of Pella. Funeral services were held Thursday, May 1, at Sully First Reformed Church. Burial was in the Sully Cemetery.
Sophia Ann Swank, daughter of Andrew J. and Nellie Vos TerLouw, was born Oct. 26, 1919, on the family farm north of Pella in the Sandridge neighborhood.
On Sept. 28, 1944, Sophie Ann was united in marriage with Marvin Swank at the home of her parents in Marion County. It was a double wedding ceremony with Marvin’s sister, Dorothy, who married Ralph Vander Kamp. Sophie Ann and Marvin were blessed with one daughter, Joyce.
The family moved to a farm south of Sully. They moved from their farm to Sully in 1979. Later, in 1999, they moved to Pella. Marvin and Sophie Ann entered the Griffin Nursing Center in 2007.
She was a member of the Sully First Reformed Church. Sophie Ann loved her church. She taught Sunday School for many years and sang in the choir.
Those left to cherish her memory are: Her daughter, Joyce (Byron C.) Vander Molen of Pella; granddaughter, Tammy (Don) Klynsma; grandson, Russell (Mary) Vander Molen; granddaughter, Robyn Vander Molen; and great grandchildren: Jeffrey, Dylan, and Sophie Klynsma, Mason, Jocelyn, and Tessa Vander Molen, and Blake and Zackery Vander Molen. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Leona TerLouw of Pella, Louise TerLouw of Edmond, OK, and Dorothy Vander Kamp of Sully.
Sophie Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin, on Feb. 12, 2012; brothers, John E. TerLouw, Gerald (Nellie) TerLouw, and Lester “Buck” TerLouw; and brothers-in-law, Ralph Vander Kamp, Marion (Florence) Swank, and Lester Swank.
