John H. Vriezelaar

John H. Vriezelaar, 86, of Monroe, died Wednesday, July 8, 2015, at Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella. A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 11 at the Monroe United Methodist Church, with burial following at Silent City Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 10 at the Monroe United Methodist Church. Memorials may be directed to the church or the Monroe Fire Department and condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com.

The son of Henry W. and Cornelia (Heemstra) Vriezelaar, John was born Aug. 23, 1928, on the family farm near Otley. John attended Summit School. He graduated from Pella High School in 1945. On Sept. 3, 1949, he was united in marriage to Twila Jean Balmer at the Monroe United Methodist Church.

Those left to honor his memory include his wife Twila; two children, Susan Jean (Gregory) Gildersleeve of Monroe, and John Hugh (Gwen) Vriezelaar, also of Monroe; five grandchildren, Stacy (Mark) Hupfeld of Dysart, Douglas (Lauren) Gildersleeve of Kellogg, Audrey Vriezelaar of Monroe, Adrian (Rob) McNew of Indianola, and Adam (Tiffany) Jordison of Omaha; and seven great-grandchildren, Paige, Alex, Bella, Avery, Gavin, Elsie and Nash. Also surviving are his sisters, Madeline West of Pella, Velma Rice of Newton, Coralee (Bill) Woody of Phoenix, Ariz., and Mary Schendel of Marshalltown; an aunt, Leona Terlouw of Pella; many nieces, nephews and friends. Preceding him in death were his parents; a daughter, Sandra Jean; a brother, Arthur; and a nephew, Russ Woody.