Harriet Zylstra, 94, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Mar. 15, 2021, and is now in her eternal home with her Lord. Graveside service was Monday, Mar. 22, at 10:30 a.m. at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. Memorial contributions may be designated to the Pella Christian Grade School.
Harriet Nikkel was born Apr. 18, 1926, on a farm near Lynnville, the fourth of 10 children born to Tunis and Nellie (Stek) Nikkel. Harriet grew up in rural Jasper County helping her parents on the farm and attending local elementary schools. She was baptized in and made her profession of faith in Sully Christian Reformed Church. Harriet met Robert E. Zylstra while attending Young People’s Society at church. Harriet and Bob often double-dated with her lifelong friend Evelyn Vos and Bob’s brother Ivan. Both couples married and maintained their special friendship throughout their lives.
Harriet and Bob were married in 1947 and began farming, first near Sully and later on the Simpson farm near Kellogg. They were blessed with the birth of the first of five children when Robert was born in 1948, followed over a 13-year period by Theodore, Marc, Elise, and Maurice. When the farm was split by the construction of Interstate-80 in 1958, the family moved to Pella so Bob could attend Central College. Harriet had already begun furthering her education while still on the farm by enrolling in high school through International Correspondence Schools, completing an application found on the inside of a matchbook cover. She would do her school work in the evening after the kids were put to bed. She received her diploma in 1961. Bob attended Central College for 2½ years and then dropped out to enter the farm equipment business with his brother Quintin for several years to earn enough to complete his college education. Harriet helped support the family by working as school librarian at Pella Christian High School and as church secretary at Calvary Christian Reformed Church. A lifelong reader who taught her children to love books and reading, Harriet discovered she had a natural aptitude for being a librarian. Bob graduated in 1968, and they planned a move to Lone Tree so Bob could teach. However, while doing custom combining on a hot day that summer, Bob suffered a debilitating heart attack, and the move to Lone Tree was abandoned as his prognosis was not good. Harriet realized that she would become the main breadwinner for the family. She relied on good friends and family and on her children, who were teenagers by that time, to help keep the household together. Harriet enrolled at Central College with the goal of a degree in library science. She graduated from Central with a BA degree and attended library science classes at the University of Iowa in Iowa City and Drake University in Des Moines, where she received her master's of library science degree. Harriet began a new position as librarian at Pella Christian Grade School, where she established and maintained the library for over 20 years, sharing her love of books and reading with her students. Harriet was also an active member of the League of Women Voters and later volunteered at Work of Our Hands. Harriet and Bob enjoyed Bible study and were involved in leading young adult Bible study classes in their home for several years. They also belonged to a close-knit Bible study group with four other couples that met monthly for over 20 years.
Married for 49 years, Harriet and Bob were best friends as well as partners, and they loved to travel together. These travels included a trip around the world with dear friends Gary and Matilda Vermeer and numerous trips all over the United States and to Europe. Even after Bob passed away in 1996, Harriet continued to winter at their second home in Mesa, AZ, and to travel with friends. Harriet moved from her home at Lindhome Apartments in 2009 to Vriendschaap Village where she happily resided until deteriorating health in October 2014 forced a move to The Cottages where she resided the remainder of her 94 years. Harriet had a deep and abiding love for Jesus and was a firm believer in the power of prayer. She prayed for each of her children and grandchildren by name every day. Harriet, along with Bob, were founding members of Faith Christian Reformed Church, and she attended faithfully as long as her health allowed.
Harriet is survived by her children: Robert (Charlene) Zylstra of Pella, Theodore (Nancy) Zylstra of Pella, Marc (Janet) Zylstra of White Fish Bay, WI, Elise Zylstra and Dorne Yager of Mechanicsville, VA, and Maurice (Diana) Zysltra of Phoenix, AZ; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Of her original family, Harriet is survived by her sister, Sylvia (Gysbert) Menninga of Oak Park, IL; brothers: Bruce (Joyce) Nikkel and Nelson (Norma) Nikkel; sisters-in-law: Joann (Leo) Nikkel of Pella and Lucille (Edward) Nikkel of Grinnell; and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Carla Zylstra, Joey Bandstra, Linda Rus, and Art (Verna) Zylstra, all of Pella, Bertha Talsma of Newton, and Duke Zylstra of Sully.
Harriet was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; parents; her siblings and their spouses: Cornelia and Fred Loynachan, Jennie and John Van Maanen, Jim and Anna Mae Nikkel, Edward Nikkel, Wilbur and Louise Nikkel, Leo Nikkel, Janice Nikkel; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Martin and Carol Zylstra, Ludolph and Joann Zylstra, Ivan and Evelyn Zylstra, Quintin and Alice Zylstra, Zeke Zylstra, John Bandstra, James Talsma, Revena and Frank Gritters, Pat Zylstra, and Donald Rus.
