Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, Donald Van Rees of Pella passed on peacefully to be with his Lord and Savior. Funeral service was held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 28, at Sully Christian Reformed Church. Memorials may be given to the Sully Christian School or Hospice of Pella.
Donald Eugene Van Rees was the oldest of four sons born to Edward and Lorene (Jansen) Van Rees on June 24, 1939, in Sully.
Don attended Sully Christian School followed by two years at Pella Christian High School before pausing his education to help his dad on the farm. He then completed his GED while serving in the U.S. Army from 1962-1964.
Don and Deloris were married on Sept. 21, 1961, in Oskaloosa. Soon after, Don completed basic training in Colorado. The following April, they moved to El Paso, TX, to continue his service. They attended a Christian Reformed Church and developed many lifelong friends and memories. While still in El Paso, they welcomed their daughter Donna. After Don’s service, they packed up the car and moved back to Sully where they made their first home together and welcomed their son Duane. They sold their home to the expanding Sully Co-op and purchased a new home where they welcomed another daughter Diane. They raised their family in Sully and moved to Pella in 2021.
Don’s career started in the factory at Maytag and at Sully Co-op driving a delivery truck. He was a long-standing employee of Fleck Feed & Grain, now called Kilduff Feed and Grain. He enjoyed his work with many farmers over the years and thought of them as friends, always willing to lend a helping hand.
Don was baptized and made profession of faith in Sully Christian Reformed Church where he was a lifelong member serving as deacon and Sunday school teacher, and taking part in Bible studies.
Don lived his life marked by faith and devotion. With few and gentle words, he offered steady guidance and loving direction to his family.
Those who will carry on his memory are his wife Deloris and their family: Donna (Vaughn) Newendorp of Pella, Duane (Marla) Van Rees of Lynnville, and Diane (Tony) Jetter of West Des Moines; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Don is also survived by his brother Randy (Samantha) Van Rees, brothers and sisters-in-law: Rhonda Van Rees, Betty Allman, Kathleen Van Steenwyk, Darrell Bokhoven, John DeHamer, Howard and Patty Bokhoven, and Earl Kennel.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law Herman and Evalena Bokhoven, brothers Clarence Van Rees and Steven Van Rees, and sisters-in-law Marjorie DeHamer and Carolyn Kennel.
