Obituary of Fern L. VanDalen

Fern Louise Van Dalen was born February 29, 1944, at the family home east of Sully, Iowa.  She was the youngest of three children that were born to Martin and Marjorie Grace (Vander Wilt) Van Wyk.  Fern attended Junction Country Grade School (Lynn Grove #5) through the sixth grade before completing her formal education by graduating from the Lynnville-Sully High School in 1962.  Fern was united in marriage with Vernon Leo Terpstra on June 18, 1963, in Sully, Iowa.  To this union they were blessed with four children: Todd Murray, Krista Jill, Jodi Dawn and Jill Denise.  Fern worked in the Maytag office until staying home to raise her four children.  She was especially diligent in attending to the needs of her family through these years.  Fern lived in Pella and Leighton before moving to the farm west of Monroe, December 1970, where she lived until the marriage dissolved and she moved into town (Monroe) 1980.  On March 16, 1985, Fern was united in marriage with Larry Wayne Van Dalen in Newton, Iowa and gained three step-children.  Fern worked for the Pella hospital, the Vernon Company and retired from Principal Financial Group.

Fern was a member of the Otley Reformed Church, Monroe Baptist Church and the last four years attended Newton Church of the Way.  She was actively involved in these churches participating in the church choir, leader in the youth programs and being on the decorating committee.

Fern enjoyed decorating her home.  She was very creative and could make old things new by refinishing old furniture.  She loved to sew when raising her children and would make the girls lots of new dresses and Holly Hobbie pictures for their bedroom walls.  She also found playing piano, cross stitching, crocheting and macrame’ to be enjoyable.  She enjoyed camping at the Iowa State Fair, coffee time with her friends and caring for her cat, Bella.  Most of all, Fern enjoyed spending time with her family, whether it was shopping with her daughters, watching her grandchildren’s sporting events, game nights, celebrating birthdays or Celebrating Christmas, she dearly loved them all.

Fern passed away late Friday evening, July 15, 2022, at the Pella Comfort House surrounded by her four loving children.  She was 78 years old.  (or 19 1/2  in Leap Year birthdays).  Fern was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Marjorie Van Wyk; her husband, Larry Van Dalen; her sister, Joyce Van Wyk; a brother-in-law, Carroll DeZwarte and her in-laws, Wayne and Valeta Van Dalen.

Those left to cherish her memory are one son and his wife and three daughters and their husbands, 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one on the way.

They are:

Todd (Bonnie) Terpstra

            Justin Terpstra

                        Jayden Terpstra

            Jeremy (Taylor) Terpstra

                        Tayten, Tinsley, Teslyn and Taegyn Terpstra

            Joey (Tommi) Terpstra

                        Oaklee and Colbie Terpstra and one on the way

            Brandi (Austin) Crady

                        Landon and Beau Crady

Krista (Ron) Van Wyngarden

            Vince Van Wyngarden

                        Chase and Maxim Van Wyngarden

            Jordan (Heather) Van Wyngarden

                        Emma and Ella Van Wyngarden

            Dylan (Jenna) Van Wyngarden

Jodi (Mike) Lanphier

            Taylon (Emma) Lanphier

                        Layton Lanphier

            Tawnie (Jeff) Codner

                        Ainslee Codner

            Trayten Lanphier

Jill (Cameron) McGinley

            Alexis (Brennan) Borgestad

            Ridge McGinley

            Reid McGinley

            Cade McGinley

She also leaves behind her sister, Rosalie DeZwarte and three step children, Angie Gettys, Denise Williams and Greg Van Dalen and their families.

A time celebrating Fern’s life will be 11:00 am, Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at the Newton Church of the Way.  A visitation with the family will be from 5:00 until 8:00 pm Tuesday at the Newton Church of the Way.  Memorials may be designated to Jasper County Conservation for benches on the Red Rock Prairie Trail and may be left at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home or the church.