Susan Fontella Terpstra, 84, of Lynnville passed away Apr. 22, 2022, at Grinnell Regional Medical Center. A visitation was held 4-7 p.m. Monday, Apr. 25, at Smith Funeral Home, Grinnell. Memorials may be designated to Lynnville Library.
Fontella was born Sept. 22, 1937, to Floyd and Wanda (Hill) Stepp in Grinnell. She was raised in the Kellogg area and graduated from Kellogg High School with the Class of 1956.
Sept. 7, 1958, she was united in marriage to Wilbur Terpstra at the Kellogg Methodist Church. The couple had three children together: Michael, Thomas, and Stephanie. Fontella worked as a waitress at the Longhorn for 27 years on Main Street in Grinnell until its closing in 1997.
Fontella loved to read and later listened to eBooks, and watched game shows, especially Jeopardy and Dancing with the Stars. She also enjoyed bowling, golfing, and traveling.
She is survived by her husband Wilbur; her three children: Michael (Brenda) Terpstra, Thomas Terpstra, and Stephanie Henning; eight grandchildren: Dana (Ryan) McFarland, Derrick (Kelsey) Terpstra, Bailey (Mason) Tompkins, Jarren Terpstra, Austin Grefe, Carter Grefe, Collin Grefe. and Carlie Henning; 10 great-grandchildren; and sisters-in-law Beverly Stepp, Ila Sprouse, and Virginia Paulson.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother Richard Stepp (infancy); and brother Gordon Stepp.
