Lester Van Der Wilt, 92, of Pella went to his heavenly home on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, at the Cottages in Pella. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Garden Chapel Funeral Home in Pella. Interment was in Woodland Cemetery, Lynnville. Memorials have been designated for Wesley Life Hospice.
Lester Van Der Wilt was born Dec. 16, 1921, to Neal and Mamie Van Der Wilt on the family farm southwest of Sully.
He received his education at the Ludwick Country School.
On Feb. 7, 1945, he was united in marriage with Deyona Gayle Stewart in Oskaloosa. They had one son, Dale.
Lester and Deyona lived in Sully the first years of their married life. They moved to Pella in 1966 where they resided for the past 47 years. Lester had been a truck driver for himself and then Sully Transport for 21 years. He then worked for the maintenance department at Central College for five years. He was co-owner of Duncan's Motel and Cafe in Monroe for six years. Later, he drove for Lubbers Dairy and the Pella Senior Van.
Lester was currently a member of the First Reformed Church in Pella.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Dale (Eileen) Van Der Wilt of Des Moines; three granddaughters, Lisa (Aaron) Shileny, Jodi (James) Hogan, and Tricia (Mark) Fleagle; and three great-grandchildren, Ryan Shileny, Rachel Hogan, and Will Hogan.
Lester was preceded in death by his wife, Deyona; his parents; three brothers: Orval, Wildo, and Carroll; and two sisters: Freda Goodyk and Vera Brand.
