Lois Van Wyk, 83, of Pella, passed away July 1, 2023, at The Cottages in Pella. Funeral services were held Wednesday, July 5, at 10:30 a.m. at Covenant Reformed Church, Pella. Interment followed in the Oakwood Cemetery, Pella. Memorial contributions are suggested for Pella Christian Schools.
Lois Darlene Fopma was born Oct. 19, 1939, near Sully. She was the youngest of four children born to Rutford and Hattie (Jansen) Fopma. Lois attended Sully Christian School. She graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School with the Class of 1957. Oct. 24, 1957, she was united in marriage with Clarence Van Kooten. Clarence passed away after a short battle with leukemia. Lois and Clarence had two daughters, Marva Jean and Cheri Lynne, when Clarence passed away.
Aug. 10, 1963, she was united in marriage with Norman Wesley Van Wyk at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Lois and Norm were blessed with two daughters, Vickie Rae and Kristin Dawn.
In her early years, Lois worked at Maytag in Newton providing for the needs of her young family. She later worked for many years in the dining room at Fairhaven in Pella. For several years, Lois and Norm managed the skating rink in Pella with the help of their girls. Lois’s daughters remember her as a talented seamstress making many of the clothes they wore. They loved their cabin near Pine River, MN, and it's still enjoyed by their family. Lois enjoyed antiquing in the area during the summers. Lois and Norm had many special friendships over the years and valued the time spent with them. In 2013, Lois and Norm celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary surrounded by all their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, affectionately known as Camp Van Wyk. After 53 years of marriage, on May 13, 2017, Norm passed away at the age of 76 years.
She is survived by three daughters Cheri (Kent) Bruxvoort of Rogers, AR, Vickie (Marvin) Van Wyk of Pella, and Kristin (Devin) Reimer of Pella; son-in-law Kent Hoogland of Ireton; 14 grandchildren; and 21 great-grandchildren.
Lois was the last surviving member of her original family. She is survived by Norm’s sister-in-law Susan (Roger) Van Wyk of Akron, NY.
Lois was preceded in death by her daughter Marva in October 2018, her parents, her husbands Clarence Van Kooten and Norman W. Van Wyk, her three siblings Bertha Zylstra, Richard Fopma, and Clarine Van Kooten; and three great-grandsons Henry Ray Stout and twins Kamden Allan and Kohen Wesley Stout.
