Robert Terlouw, 89, of Grinnell, died Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.
A graveside ser-vice and burial was at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 16, at Sully Cemetery with Pastor Jamie Bogaard, pastor of Lynnville Friends Church, officiating.
Memorial contributions may be designated to St. Francis Manor Foundation and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112.
Bob was born Sept. 22, 1933, the seventh child of Henry and Alice (Nikkel) Terlouw on the family farm near Sully, in Jasper County. He attended Sudlow Country School as a boy and graduated from Sully High School. Bob went on to receive his degree in finance from C.C.C. Business College.
Nov. 12, 1966, Bob was united in marriage to Ella Mae Gilbert in Newton. The couple resided in rural Jasper County near Kellogg. Bob worked at Kellogg Bank as a loan officer and later vice president. Bob honorably served his country in the United States Navy aboard the U.S.S. Lexington.
Bob enjoyed music, he was a talented pianist and organist and enjoyed listening to gospel quartet groups. He enjoyed flowers and spent many hours maintaining the various flower beds and trimming trees around St. Francis Manor. He traveled all throughout his life and enjoyed touring Hawaii, California, and Japan while he served in the Navy and continued to travel with his wife Ella Mae and cherished the many friendships they made while traveling.
Bob is survived by his nieces and nephews Ronda Lanser, Dennis (Gail) Terlouw, Kevin (Kelly) Terlouw, Doug (Lori) Terlouw, Rashele (Phil) Nikkel, Maren (Dave) Scharf, and Cynthia Kvistad (wife of the late David Terlouw); and many great- and great-great-nieces and nephews, cousins, and special friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife Ella Mae, his parents, four brothers and their spouses: Hank and Grace Terlouw, Gerritt Terlouw, James and Donna Terlouw, and Ollie and Lois Terlouw; two sisters Marie Terlouw and Jennie Terlouw; and two nephews David Terlouw and Daryl Terlouw.
