Norman Wesley Van Wyk, 76, of Pella, passed away Saturday, May 13, 2017, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House. Funeral ser-vices were held Wednesday, May 17, at Covenant Reformed Church in Pella. Interment followed in the Oakwood Cemetery at Pella with military honors. Memorial contributions are suggested for the Pella Christian Grade School Building Fund.
Norman Wesley Van Wyk was born Dec, 12, 1941, in Jasper County near Sully. He was the first of two sons born to Gysbert and Pauline (Ver Steegt) Van Wyk. Norm attended country school through the fifth grade and then Sully Christian School. He graduated from Lynnville- Sully High School with the Class of 1959 and even though small in stature, played football during high school. After graduating, he served with the Iowa National Guard in Newton and became a platoon leader with his unit. Aug. 10, 1963, he and Lois Darlene (Fopma) Van Kooten were united in marriage at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Lois had two very young daughters, Marva Jean and Cheri Lynne, from the previous marriage to her husband, Clarence Van Kooten, and together Norm and Lois were blessed with two more daughters, Vickie Rae and Kristin Dawn. Their family never knew the distinction between their girls, and they moved to Pella, which was their main residence during their 53 years of married life together.
Norm began his working career welding at Vermeer’s original west building site. He later advanced into the production engineering department and retired after 47 years of employment with Vermeer Manufacturing in Pella. Retirement was very fulfilling and busy for Norm, namely due to golfing and fishing. He and Lois would go to Sun City, AZ, annually where he had many golfing friends. He loved his cabin in Minnesota and was an avid fisherman who kept meticulous records of his adventures. Needless to say, Norm had many golfing and fishing friends, as well as church friends. Norm and Lois also loved attending Pella Christian activities with their family and friends. He made profession of his faith at the Sully Christian Reformed Church, and at the present time, was a member of Covenant Reformed Church in Pella. Norm's service to his church included head counselor for Cadets and deacon at First Christian Reformed Church, and he served as an elder at Covenant Reformed Church.
Norm is survived by his loving wife, Lois D. Van Wyk of Pella; four daughters: Marva (Kent) Hoogland of Ireton, Cheri (Kent) Bruxvoort of Ft. Worth, TX, Vickie (Marvin) Van Wyk of Pella, and Kristin (Devin) Reimer of Pella; 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; his brother, Roger B. (Susan) Van Wyk of Akron, NY, and their sons Corbin, Scott, and Nathan; his stepmother, Nellie Van Wyk of Pella; and three sisters-in-law: Bertha Zylstra of Sully, Marjorie Fopma of Pella, and Clarine Van Kooten of Sully.
Norm was preceded in death by his parents; three great-grandsons: Henry Ray Stout, twins Kamden Alan and Kohen Wesley Stout; his parents-in-law, Rutford and Hattie (Jansen) Fopma; and brothers-in-law, William Zylstra, Richard Fopma, and Donald Van Kooten.
