Fern L. Van Dalen, 78 (or 19 ½ in Leap Year birth-days), passed away late Friday evening, July 15, 2022, at Pella Comfort House surrounded by her four loving children.
A time celebrating Fern’s life was at 11 a.m., Wednesday, July 20, at Newton Church of the Way. Memorials may be designated to Jasper County Conservation for benches on the Red Rock Prairie Trail and may be left at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home or the church.
Fern Louise Van Dalen was born Feb. 29, 1944, at the family home east of Sully. She was the youngest of three children born to Martin and Marjorie Grace (Vander Wilt) Van Wyk. Fern attended Junction Country Grade School (Lynn Grove #5) through the sixth grade before completing her formal education by graduating from the Lynnville-Sully High School in 1962. Fern was united in marriage with Vernon Leo Terpstra on June 18, 1963, in Sully. To this union they were blessed with four children: Todd Murray, Krista Jill, Jodi Dawn, and Jill Denise. Fern worked in the Maytag office until staying home to raise her four children. She was especially diligent in attending to the needs of her family through these years. Fern lived in Pella and Leighton before moving to the farm west of Monroe, December 1970, where she lived until the marriage dissolved, and she moved into town (Monroe) in 1980. Mar. 16, 1985, Fern was united in marriage with Larry Wayne Van Dalen in Newton and gained three stepchildren. Fern worked for the Pella hospital, the Vernon Company, and retired from Principal Financial Group.
Fern was a member of Otley Reformed Church, Monroe Baptist Church, and the last four years attended Newton Church of the Way. She was actively involved in these churches participating in the church choir, leader in the youth programs, and being on the decorating committee.
Fern enjoyed decorating her home. She was very creative and could make old things new by refinishing old furniture. She loved to sew when raising her children and would make the girls lots of new dresses and Holly Hobbie pictures for their bedroom walls. She also found playing piano, cross stitching, crocheting, and macrame’ to be enjoyable. She enjoyed camping at the Iowa State Fair, coffee time with her friends, and caring for her cat Bella. Most of all, Fern enjoyed spending time with her family, whether it was shopping with her daughters, watching her grand-children’s sporting events, game nights, celebrating birthdays, or celebrating Christmas, she dearly loved them all.
Fern was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Larry Van Dalen; her sister Joyce Van Wyk; a brother-in-law Carroll DeZwarte; and her in-laws Wayne and Valeta Van Dalen.
Those left to honor Fern’s memory include one son and his wife and three daughters and their husbands, 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren (with one on the way); her sister Rosalie DeZwarte; two nephews; one niece; and three stepchildren Angie Gettys, Denise Williams, and Greg Van Dalen and their families.
