Donald Van Wyk, 79, of Pella and formerly of Lynnville, died Mar. 25, 2024. Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, Mar. 28, at Calvary Christian Reformed Church, Pella, followed by interment in Sully Cemetery.
Donald Lee Van Wyk was born to Dick and Martha (DeKraai) Van Wyk Jan. 13, 1945, in rural Poweshiek County. He started kindergarten there, but later his family moved to a farm by Monroe. He finished kindergarten through fifth grade at Enterprise Country School. At age 15, he was involved in a farm accident, which caused him to lose most of his index finger. During this time, he came down with lockjaw, but survived this very serious illness. He graduated from Monroe High School with the Class of 1963.
Mar. 25, 1966, he married Lucille Olsthoorn at Sully Christian Reformed Church. They made their home on her family’s farm and started farming while also working at Van Gorp Mfg. To this union, four children were born: Pamela, Duane, Eric, and Lucas. He raised his children on the farm, teaching them the value of hard work and to hang in there during the tough times. He continued to farm and milk cows, even bringing son Eric in to expand the business. When a tornado took down the milk barn in 1998, they discontinued milking, but Donald continued to crop farm. With his extra time, he worked at Sully Co-op driving cement truck and later in the lumber yard. He also worked briefly at Pella Corp and Numark.
Donald was very generous with his time and talents, going on several mission trips helping others in need. Donald and Lucille spent many years on tractor rides seeing the sights of Iowa at a very slow speed. The grandkids had even started to join him on this activity. They also enjoyed traveling on several bus trips and camping at the state fair, making friends in each of these areas.
In 2015, they moved to Pella and began retirement. He continued to keep busy working at the Historical Village and volunteering at Bible for Missions Thrift Store picking up furniture. He was a member of Calvary Christian Reformed Church and participated in many different men’s Bible studies. He could also be found tinkering in his workshop doing woodworking projects. Christmas was an especially busy time for him making gifts for family members. He was always ready to lend a helping hand and willing to make or fix anything that you needed.
Donald leaves his wife Lucille; four children: Pamela (Jerry) De Bruin, Duane (Sharlene) Van Wyk, Eric (Cheryl) Van Wyk, and Lucas (Jenny) Van Wyk; 12 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; his brothers Dick (Linda) Van Wyk and Harold (Twyla) Van Wyk; brothers-in-law Gilbert Van Maanen and Jerald Kuiper; and sisters-in-law Lavonne Van Wyk and Marlena (Dave) Eischweiler; along with many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his mothers- and father-in-law Lambert and Arene Olsthoorn, Anna Olsthoorn; sisters Jane Ann and Ralph Van Wyk, Ruby Van Wyk, and Ada Kay Van Maanen; brother Bernard Van Wyk; and sister-in-law Ceceila Kuiper.
