Bernard D. VanDer Pol, 77, passed away Saturday evening, Apr. 22, 2017, at his residence where he was born south of Sully.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, Apr. 26, at Sully First Reformed Church. Interment was in Sully Cemetery with military honors by the Van Veen-Van Hemert American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella. Memorial contributions may be given for the Bernie VanDer Pol Memorial Fund to be directed to the Jasper County Fair Board.
Bernard David VanDer Pol was the son of Gerrit and Marie (Dunnick) VanDer Pol. He was born Apr. 24, 1939, south of Sully on the homeplace of his parents, where he continued to live the remainder of his life, 77 years, 11 months, and 28 days. Bernie grew up there with two older sisters, Nellie and Annie. He was a member of the Class of 1957, the first graduating class from Lynnville-Sully High School in Sully. During high school, he played six-man football and basketball. Following his graduation, he enlisted in the Iowa National Guard and was proud of his military commitment. Bernie then began farming and milking with his dad on their homeplace.
Sept. 4, 1962, he and Carlene Mae Van Zante were united in marriage at the Otley Reformed Church, and to this union two children were born, Kayleen June and Kenneth Gerrit. Bernie continued a lifetime commitment of farming, milking, and raising cattle. His heart was in the soil, planting seeds in the springtime, cultivating, and culminating with the fall harvest. He was a devoted herdsman, who had milked for several years, and later was a Holstein and Simmental cattleman. He was the first in Iowa to raise Simmental breed cattle, served on the Iowa Simmental Association Board as president, was president of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and was president of the Iowa Beef Expo. During this time in his career, Bernie was employed for a few years at Vermeer Manufacturing Company in Pella as a machinist. He graduated from auctioneering school in 1968. His auctioneering training enabled him to conduct and even set up sales events for cattle sales throughout the Midwest. Bernie knew no stranger, and these events led to lifelong friends with whom he always loved to reminisce. Bernie also had a special place in his heart for his dogs, Bingo, Ty, Char, and Tip. He had an appreciation for guns, enjoyed hunting, and he and Carlene enjoyed camping and attending the Iowa State Fair. Sports were an active part of his social life, as well as attending his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. He had been active in FFA and was a faithful member of Sully First Reformed Church where he was involved with Promise Keepers. Bernie and Carlene enjoyed the winters they were able to spend together in Apache Junction, AZ, until he passed away on Apr. 22 at his home.
Surviving are his wife, Carlene, of Sully; their daughter and her family: Kayleen (Al) Miller and their two children: Alise Korinne Miller and Carson Alan Miller of Waukee; their son and his family: Kenny (Jill) VanDer Pol and their three children: Max Gerrit, Chase Isabella, and Skyler Ann VanDer Pol of Urbandale; his two sisters: Nellie Zylstra and Annie (Melvin) Rouwenhorst of Pella; and two brothers-in-law and two sisters-in-law: Norman and Mary Van Zante of Pella and Louise (Van Zante) and Brian Wilson of Monroe.
Bernie was preceded in death by his parents; his brother-in-law, Orville Zylstra; his parents-in-law, Francis M. and Ellen (Elscott) Van Zante; a niece, Ruth Zylstra; and a great-niece, Morgan Voss.
