On Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, Kenneth Eugene Van Gent, 94, passed away at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House. Funeral service was at 11 a.m., Wednesday, Sept. 17, at The Cornerstone Church, Pella. Final resting place was Oakwood Cemetery, Pella. Memorial contributions are preferred for The Cornerstone Church.
Kenny was born in a farmhouse west of Otley on Aug. 24, 1931. He was the third of six children born to Peter and Dorothy (Verwers) Van Gent. He attended Fair Oaks Country Grade School near Cordova in Marion County. Kenneth made his profession of faith in 1947 at Sully First Reformed Church.
Kenny and Esther Merle Nieuwsma met after Mission Fest in Pella. Shortly after they started dating, he was drafted into the Army of the United States of America in August 1952 and served during the Korean War. Kenny and Esther were united in marriage during his month-long furlough on Apr. 28, 1954, at Second Christian Reformed Church Parsonage in Pella. He and Esther became members of Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella (now The Cornerstone Church) where they have been members for 63 years.
Upon his discharge on Aug. 13, 1954, he received the Korean Service Medal, two Bronze Service Medals, a United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and Good Conduct Medal. Kenny and Esther then began farming north of Sully where their three children were born: Karen Elaine in 1957, Keith Earl in 1959, and Kathy Eileen in 1960. The family lived there for seven years until the opportunity presented itself for them to rent a farm west of Otley from GT and Frances Van Houweling. The Van Gent family formed a very close bond with the Van Houweling family, which continues to this day. During this time, Kenny raised 500 cattle, 500 hogs, and 500 chickens. The farming operation involved the entire family.
They built a home in Pella and moved into town in 1985. He slowly retired from farming over the next several years. Kenny then pursued his interests in junking, garage sales, and coffee times. They enjoyed going to George’s Pizza and playing cards with friends. Kenny and Esther were privileged to travel to Hawaii, Italy, Austria, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, Arizona, Texas, Colorado, Florida, and the Bahamas. Their most recent trips were to Branson, San Francisco, and Denver.
Kenny was honored to be on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., in 2013 with his son Keith.
He is survived by his wife, Esther, with whom he was blessed to share 71 years of married life, and their three children: Karen (Craig) Hudson of Pella, Keith (Jeannetta) Van Gent of Venice, FL, and Kathy (Stuart) Van Wyk of Pella; 10 grandchildren; and 19 great-grandchildren.
Kenny was the last surviving member of his original family and leaves behind a sister-in-law Alenna (Nieuwsma) Jansen of Pella. He was preceded in death by his parents; his siblings Janice and Arnold Van Gent (who died infancy), Edward and Eleanor Van Gent, Esther and Guysbert “Gus” Van Wyk, Janice and Carl Henning; his parents-in-law Paul and Minnie (Andringa) Nieuwsma; and siblings-in-law Harris and Gladys Nieuwsma and Robert Jansen.
