John Van Woerkom, 95, of Pella, passed away Feb. 26, 2026. Funeral ser-vices were held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Mar. 3, at Corner-stone Church. Mem-orials may be given to Hospice of Pella or Pella Christian Schools.
John Edward Van Woerkom was born Feb. 8, 1931, the first-born son of Bastian and Gertie (Vande Wall) Van Woerkom. He was named after the grandfather (he never knew) who drowned in the Skunk River in Lynnville. He was baptized and made profession of faith at First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa.
When John went to school, he could not speak English because the only language he heard spoken at home was Dutch. He learned very quickly! During his education, John attended seven schools in eight years. When he completed eighth grade, he went to get a job at the age of 14. He was hired as a farmhand for $5 a day.
John went into service in 1951, served as an M.P. in Austria, achieved the rank of Corporal, and was honorably discharged. When he came home, he married the love of his life, Louise Joan Newendorp, on Thursday, Nov. 17, 1953. The newlyweds made their home east of Oskaloosa, and John worked for the Gray brothers as a farmhand. They were blessed with six children: Bonnie, Jan, Karen, and Kenny, and Jay and Jon; 19 grandchildren who knew him at “Popo,” and 43 great- grandchildren who called him “Silly Papa,” for a family total of 90! What a wonderful legacy! John was so proud of his family!
John enjoyed sports, especially fast pitch softball, when he was young. It was his delight to encourage and coach the young guys at First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. He found joy in watching his sons and daughters play on many teams in Oskaloosa. John and Louise rarely missed an activity that the grandchildren participated in. John even made it to watch some great-grands play last summer, always a great cheerleader for his family but also for any Pella Christian team. Christian education was highly valued by John and Louise for their family. He served on several boards in the school and the church in both Pella and Oskaloosa.
John was pretty adamant about staying in his own home and as a family, we are greatly blessed that we could honor that. Time spent around the table visiting over coffeetime or playing games was always a special, and now treasured, time at the Van Woerkom house.
John’s usual “goodbye” to his family and friends was “zachtjes aan” (go slow) when you left the house.
John’s faith was an important part of his life, and he lived it daily in the way he treated other people. His welcoming personality drew others to him, and he never knew a stranger.
Zachtjes aan Dad
His family are: Bonnie (Warren) Van Wyngarden of Peoria, Jan (Kevin) Laverman of Sully, Karen (Don) Branderhorst of Otley, Ken (Janiece) Van Woerkom of Pella, Jay (Jill) Van Woerkom of Pella, and Jon (Glenda) Van Woerkom of Pella; 19 grandchildren who knew him as “Popo,” and 43 great-grandchildren who called him “Silly Papa,” for a family total of 90!
John is also survived by his sisters-in-law Rose Van Woerkom and Karen Newendorp.
John was preceded in death by his wife Louise, his parents, his parents-in-law Walter and Marie Newendorp, his siblings Sylvia (Bill) Quick and Larry Van Woerkom, and Louise’s siblings Wilbur (Gladys) Newendorp, Beulah (Dormand) Arkema, Dorthea (Dwight) Wanders, and John Newendorp.
