Viola Engbers, 75

                Viola M. (Vander Molen) Engbers, 75, of Pella, passed away Monday morning, Apr. 8, 2019, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella. Funeral services were held Saturday, Apr. 13, at 10:30 a.m. at Covenant Reformed Church, Pella. Interment was in Black Oak Cemetery in Mahaska County. Memorial contributions are suggested for the Peoria Christian School or Zeeland (MI) Christian School.

                Viola Mae Engbers was born Apr. 14, 1943, in a house in Pella. She was the second of six children born to Ben and Christine (Struik) Vander Molen. Vi, as she was known, attended Peoria Christian School and graduated from Pella Christian High School with the Class of 1961.

                Vi was introduced to Larry William Engbers by her older brother, Marty.  Following their courtship, they were united in marriage on Aug. 5, 1964, at First Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Vi and Larry became the parents of four daughters: Lora Elaine, Lynda Lee, Victoria Lynn, and LaVon Kay. Vi was a devoted mother and homemaker while also working at Pella Super Valu, Ideal Pharmacy, Stravers Hardware, Hilltop Manor, and cleaning homes. She retired in 2007 while continuing to help on the farm. She enjoyed working with her husband in their vineyard, which they named “Larry’s Berries and Vi’s Vines.” Vi deeply treasured spending time with her family and watching her grandchildren play on the farm. She also enjoyed yard work, gardening, and canning fruits. They continued to reside on their acreage northeast of Pella until becoming residents at Vriendschap Village in Pella in 2014.

                Vi and Larry were privileged to share 54 years of married life together, and he survives her along with their four daughters: Lora (Fred) Anderson of Mountain Home, ID, Lynda (Joel) Veenstra of Searsboro, Victoria (Doug) Zylstra of Zeeland, MI, and LaVon Engbers of Glen Ellyn, IL; and six grandchildren.

                Vi leaves the following brother and sisters, sisters-in-law, and brothers-in-law: Martin (Betty) Vander Molen of Sully, Judy (Arvin) Kelderman, Rita (Don) Van Maanen, Joyce Vander Molen, Christy (Jim) Van Zee, all of Pella; along with Marjorie (Engbers) and Arthur Kuiper of Pella, Virginia (Engbers) Hoekstra of Kenosha, WI, Jan (Engbers) Fronek of Tinley Park, IL; and many nieces and nephews. 

                Vi was preceded in death by her parents; a stepgranddaughter, Lauren Elisabeth Anderson; her brother, Byron Vander Molen; her parents-in-law, William and Pearl Engbers; and two brothers-in-law, Jim Engbers and Alvin Hoekstra.

                Viola was baptized and made profession of her faith at the Protestant Reformed Church in Pella. She was a former member of the First Christian Reformed Church and presently a member of the Covenant Reformed Church in Pella.

Arie Vink, Jr., 86

                Arie Vink, Jr. was born Mar. 30, 1933, to Arie Sr. and Nellie (De Jong) Vink, in Reasnor. He passed away Apr. 12, 2019, at the Comfort House in Pella. Funeral services were held Apr. 17 at First Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Memorial donations may be given to Pella Christian High School – FFA Program or First Christian Reformed Church of which he was a member and served as elder and deacon. He was faithful in attending church even though he couldn’t hear.

                Arie attended Sand Ridge School through eighth grade. He went on to serve in the Army. Sept. 26, 1958, he was united in marriage to Joyce Ryken at her parents’ home in Otley.  To this union, they were blessed with six children: Arlyn, Mark, Joann, Loraine, Byron, and Carolyn. 

                Arie enjoyed farming until 1978 when they moved to town. His biggest joy was planting the corn and always ran the combine. He later worked for Pella Christian High School and Central College.  After retirement, Arie and Joyce started Vink Lawn Care, later selling the business to Arlyn and continued to mow. He enjoyed woodworking and built toy barns with his grandsons and later his great- grandsons, teaching them how to properly hold a hammer and to mow and never blow grass on the street. Arie enjoyed traveling and taking a cruise to England and Western Europe. He also enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s sporting events and music concerts.

                Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Joyce and their family: Arlyn (Louise) Vink, Mark (Janet) Vink, Joann De Haan, Loraine Van Veldhuizen, Byron Vink, and Carolyn (Blane) Bogaard; 12 grand-children; and 22 great-grand-children. Arie was preceded in death by his parents; his parents-in-law, Martin and Antonia Ryken; his son-in-law, Greg Van Veldhuizen; his great-granddaughter, Evyn Gentry; his sister, Anna (Frank) Hettinga; and his brother, Nick (Bertha) Vink.

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