Irene Blom, 92

On Saturday, Mar. 13, 2021, Irene Blom, 92, of Pella, received her eternal reward while being cared for at The Cottages in Pella. Funeral service was at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Mar. 17, at Covenant Reformed Church in Pella. For those desiring, memorial contributions may be designated for Pella Christian Grade School, the Back to God Hour radio ministry broadcast, or Crossroad Bible Institute.

Irene Bokhoven was born near Taintor on Mar. 30, 1928. She was the eighth child born to Herman W. and Antonia (Ver Ploegh) Bokhoven. She received limited education, was raised on the farm, and helped with many of the chores and farm work. Already at an early age, she learned what it meant to be a hardworker. In 1945, she and her parents and two sisters moved into Pella and soon Irene found work at Vandevoort Grocery Store where she worked for 2½ years.

Irene met Henry Lawrence Blom at a church function at the Second Christian Reformed Church, and they were united in marriage on Aug. 26, 1948, at the home of her parents in Pella. Irene always said when she left the farm she never wanted to see another cow, so she married a dairy farmer and spent the first 10 years of their marriage where he was born on the farm of his parents, Antone M. and Josie (Ver Ploeg) Blom.

Irene and Lawrence always provided a strong directional force in the lives of their five children: Stanley Richard, Daniel Lawrence, Shirley Ann, Michael Jay, and Larry Allen. They grew up realizing their responsibility of caring for the land and dairy animals. Their home was always organized and efficient, as well as warm and friendly. They were dairy farmers for 40 years, and Irene was a most-willing volunteer.  She was very involved in church, school, and community organizations. She helped organize and was the first president of Hilltop Auxiliary. She organized a state-wide Dairy Auxiliary, of which she served as president as well as helping start some in other states. She had been president of Mothers’ Club at Pella Christian Grade School, Ladies Auxiliary at Pella Christian High School, and Women’s Edification League in Classis Pella. And most recently and for several years, she served as the chairman of “The Political Party” in Marion County. She and Lawrence served as 4-H leaders for many years, and in 1981, she received a Master Farm Homemaker of Iowa Award for Marion and Mahaska Counties. Irene and Lawrence retired from farming in 1988 and moved into Pella where together they helped plant tulips and flowers at the Historical Village for 19 years. Irene was the happiest when kept busy, especially doing something for someone else. She made profession of her faith at Second Christian Reformed Church and following her marriage transferred to the First Christian Reformed Church. She served as a Sunday school teacher, and she and Lawrence sang in the choir for 60 years as well as several duets.

Irene and Lawrence later became charter members of the Covenant Reformed Church where she also served as president of the Ladies Society.

She is survived by four children: Stanley (Kerry) Blom of Grimes, Shirley (Douglas) Vermeer of Pella, Michael (LuAnn) Blom of Pella, Larry Allen (Shannon) Blom of Wildwood, GA; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; two sisters Dena and Ann Bokhoven, both of Pella; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Lawrence Blom, on May 4, 2016; her son Daniel Lawrence at the age of 19 years; her parents; and the following brothers and sisters and their spouses: Herman and Marie Bokhoven, Gerrit Bokhoven and Wilma and Dee, Anthony and Carolyn Bokhoven, Arthur Bokhoven and Freda and Phyllis, Henry Bokhoven, Minnie and Lee Roose and Ruth, Jean and Rev. Clarence Vos; her parents-in-law Tone and Josie Blom and Grace (Meppelink); as well as the following brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Ernest and Mary Jane Blom, Helen and Elmer Vander Waal, and Lenora and Albert Pleima.

Irene was a person always willing for a new experience. Life had many struggles for her, but she always knew the Lord would see her through and help her to grow in her faith and equip her to help others.

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