Bruce E. Baarda, 82
Bruce E. Baarda, 82, of Sully, passed away of PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2017, at the Mayflower Community Health Care Center in Grinnell with his wife and children by his side. His wife, Shirley, faithfully cared for Bruce until his last breath!
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2, at Sully First Reformed Church with Pastor Wayne Sneller officiating. Organist was Bonnie Vander Weerdt, and soloist was his great-nephew, Joel Nikkel. Pallbearers were grandsons: Corey Rolffs, Cole Rolffs, Josh Nikkel, LCDR Cole Weideman, USN, LTJG Kaid Weideman, USN, and Dan Beyer. Burial was in the Sully Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Diamond Trail Golf Club in Lynnville or Grinnell Regional Hospice.
Bruce was born Aug. 12, 1935, in Newton, the son of Dick and Julia DePrenger Baarda. He was the middle child of a family of seven. He attended Turner Country School and graduated from Grinnell High School in 1953. After his graduation, he worked for Don Onthank Construction for a year.
Sept. 21, 1956, he was united in marriage with Shirley Jansen (of Lynnville) in Sully – a union of 60 years! They became the parents of a daughter, Valerie, who married Scott Rolffs, and a son, Kent, who married Joellyn (Burnham) Weideman.
In 1958, Bruce was drafted into the United States Army, where he served two years active duty and was then retained for 2 1/2 years in the active reserves. Upon return from the service, he continued to work for Sully-Co-op Exchange doing various jobs and later was transferred to the office in the grain department where he worked for 40 years. After his retirement in 1995, he continued to work during the fall and spring at Sully Co-op and also delivered motor homes from Winnebago Industries to dealers in the United States and Canada for 11 years.
Bruce was a member of Sully First Reformed Church. His faith was an important part of his life. His family was very important, too. He was always supportive and enjoyed following his children and grandchildren in all their events. He was a charter member and actively helped in establishing the Diamond Trail Golf Club. He enjoyed sports, including golf, and was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes. Bruce and Shirley enjoyed wintering in Florida and loved to travel.
Left with memories are his wife, Shirley; his daughter, Valerie (Scott) Rolffs, along with their family Corey, Jaci, Addilynn, and Ellanora Rolffs, Cole and Leah Rolffs, and Aimee and Josh Nikkel; his son, Kent (Joellyn) Baarda and their family, LCDR Nicholas, Jennifer Weideman and Mackenzie, Trisha and Dan Beyer, and LTJG Kaid Weideman; four sisters, Ila Mae Huyser, Lucille Nikkel, Karma (Don) Burman, and Karen (Phil) Langstraat; and four sisters-in-laws, Judith Baarda, Bernice Dieleman, Cornelia Boat, and Jerri Jansen.
Preceding him in death were his parents; one sister, Joyce Huizer; one brother, Dean Baarda; one sister-in-law, Mary Nikkel; and seven brothers-in-law: Hubert Huizer, Edward Huyser, Edward Nikkel, Harris Boat, Joe Nikkel, Louis Dieleman, and Cornie L. Jansen.
