Lois Van Der Kamp Schmelzle, 90, went to be with the Lord on Aug. 19, 2025. Graveside ser-vices were at 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 23, at Sully Cemetery. Memorials may be given to Liberty Evangelical Free Church for the children's nursery.
Lois was born Nov. 2, 1934, the third daughter of Ernest and Anna (Jelsma) Van Der Kamp, on the family farm south of Sully. She attended Iron Clad Lynn Grove #11, graduated from Sully High School in 1953, Iowa Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in 1956, Barnes Hospital School of Nurse Anesthetist in St. Louis, MO, in 1972, and received her BH degree from Stephens College, Columbia, MO, in 1976. Lois worked as an office nurse two years in Des Moines then in the operating room at Iowa Methodist Hospital until 1965 when she moved to St. Louis, MO, working in the operating room at Barnes Hospital and John Cochran Veterans Administration Medical Center. She continued working at JCVAMC as a CRNA until retiring in 1997.
Lois married Marvin Schmelzle Feb. 5, 1977, at Memorial Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, MO. Marvin passed away in November 2000. Lois moved back to Pella in February 2003. She was an active member of Liberty Evangelical Free Church serving on the Missions Commission, in the nursery for church, and Sunday school, and helping with the construction from the beginning. Lois volunteered at the food pantry and Work of Our Hands. She enjoyed house and dog sitting, reading, jigsaw puzzles, and helping people pack and move.
Lois is survived by her sister Shirley Van Hal; nieces and nephews Sharon (Lyle) Nunnikhoven, Gregory (Sue) Van Hal, Erwin Van Hal, Anita (Scott) Carrol; and many great-nieces and nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, parents-in-law Frank and Gertrude Schmelzle, sister Vivian Van Der Kamp, brother-in-law Gerrit Van Hal, and great-great-niece Grace Nunnikhoven.
