Melvin Poortinga, 79, of Reasnor, died Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, after a 2 ½-year courageous battle with colon cancer. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 5, at Otley Church. Memorials have been designated for Reasnor Fire Department, Otley Church - Cadets and GEMS Programs, and Lake View Camp, Pella.
Melvin “Mel” Ray Poortinga was born Jan. 2, 1946, to Marion and Elizabeth (Van Schevikhoven) Poortinga of Oskaloosa. He was the third of six children, who all shared in responsibilities and were instilled with strong work ethics at early ages when their father died. Mel attended a one-room school named Valley View. He always enjoyed sharing that he was the smartest one in his class — and then smiled when he added that he was the only one. He went on to graduate from Pella High School in 1964.
Mel began working on the family farm already at the age of nine with the help from the rest of his family and neighbors. He was employed by his brother, Duane, at D & D Pump for a short time after high school and later helped to lay block for homes for Howard DeJong. In 1965, Mel enlisted in the Army National Guard and received an honorable discharge in 1971 as a Sergeant E5.
He met Karen Beth Tool at Otley Reformed Church on Easter Sunday in 1966, and they were married Feb. 16, 1968. On their honeymoon, Karen remembers three flat tires and a burglarized car while at the St. Louis Zoo; this was an eventful start to almost 57 great years together. Two years after their marriage, Cindy was born, and a few years later, Kevin.
Mel loved God, his family, and farming each day of his life. He grew and harvested row crops throughout his farming career and had a farrow-to-finish hog operation until the late 1990s. He served on the Key (Sully) Cooperative Board for many years, was a member of the Jasper County Farm Bureau, and sat on the advisory board of the Pella branch of U.S. Bank.
He was an involved member of the Otley Reformed Church, serving on the consistory as an elder and a deacon. Mel also enjoyed his time mentoring and educating boys as part of the Cadets Program for 20 years.
Another of Mel’s favorite pastimes was building and creating hardscape for their property near Reasnor called Stonypoint. In 2005, he built a rustic barn that their family and friends could use for gatherings; little did Mel and Karen dream that this lumber structure would become host to hundreds of events and thousands of people over the next 19 years. The couple worked together to plant, build, and maintain features of the landscape for all to enjoy. The endeavor proved to be a source of pride and fond memories for Mel and Karen.
He relished his fishing trips to Canada and deer hunting; when closer to home, Mel and Karen enjoyed dining out, playing cards, and vacationing with friends. They were members of Dutch Masters Car Club, which they joined in on tours with their 1960 Chevy Impala hardtop. The couple also looked forward to the annual Red Rock Threshers Tractor Ride, when Mel was able to drive his John Deere 3010 over the Iowa landscape.
Mel’s life was also certainly brightened by being Grandpa to Tyler and Madison. He loved watching them at all their sporting events and following them as they grew.
He is survived by his wife Karen; daughter Cindy Foster and son-in-law Wayne Foster of Reasnor, son Kevin Poortinga and his partner Chad Sievers of Indianapolis, IN; grandson Tyler Foster and fiancée Kelsey White of Grand Rapids, MI; granddaughter Madison Foster and fiancé Isaac Telfer; sister Nancy Spoelstra and brother-in-law Clarence of Pella; sister Phyllis Ramer of Otley; sister Sharon Steenhoek and brother-in-law David of Pella; sister-in-law Fran Poortinga; brother-in-law Richard Tool of Rio Rancho, NM; stepsisters Judy Savard and Elaine Funk; and many nieces and nephews.
Mel was preceded in death by his parents, father-in-law Floyd Tool and mother-in-law Bernice, brother Duane Poortinga, sister Evelyn Baarda and brother-in-law Dale, and stepbrothers David Van Hulzen and Nelson Van Hulzen.
