John Andrew Banstra was born on December 9, 1926, in Mahaska County near Leighton, Iowa. His mother was the former Mary Vande Voort who was born at Pella, Iowa and his father was Bart Bandstra who was born in Friesland, the Netherlands. John grew up on the farm near Leighton and attended the West Weaver Country Grade School. In December of 1944 he was drafted into the United States Army. John served during World War II and was honorably discharged in December, 1946. Following his discharge he lived with his parents in Pella, Iowa and worked at a wagon factory. John was introduced to Joey Zylstra by his cousin and friend Gibert Bandstra. The two met when John went to Sully, Iowa with Gib on Sunday evening at Sully Christian Reformed Church. John and Joan were united in marriage on February 16, 1950, at the Sully Christian Redformed Church in Sully. To this union four children were born: Bruce Wayne on February 19, 1952, Debra Joy on September 23, 1953, Linda Sue on October 28, 1956 and Edwin John on July 31, 1962. John and Joey farmed for ten years until they moved to Pella in 1960. John then became the fuel tank truck driver for the Farmers Cooperative Exchange. He was well known to children as the 'candy man' and retired in 1988. John's retirement proved to be fulfilling for him. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends and thoroughly enjoyed a good home-cooked meal. The later years of his retirement frequently found John at the Pella Golf & Country Club where he enjoyed golfing and playing cards. John was dealt a hand in life that proved to be challenging for him and Joey and their family. Their faith and trust in God carried them through the next few years and life was still good for them. John was diagnosed with lung cancer in May, 2010, and succumbed to that reoccurrence on Wednesday morning, July 27, 2011, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella at the age of 84 years. John is survived by his wife of 61 years, Joey; their four children and their spouses, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren who were the joy of his life and who will miss him dearly. They and their families are: Bruce and Marilyn(Bruxvoort)Bandstra of Pella, IA, Tara Lynn and Tony Hull of Mokena, Il, Isabella, AJ, Debbie Huisman of Pella, IA, Chris and Heidi(Vellenga)Huisman of Dyersville, IA, Caleb, Hannah, Micah, Lindy and Lon Davey of Indianols, Iowa, Angie and Marc Ricketts of Indianola, Iowa, Gavin, Jerod Davey of Des Moines, IA, Wade Davey of Marathon, FL, Ed and Nancy(Frommelt)Bandstra of Dubuque, IA, Adam John Bandstra of Dubuque, IA, Elizabeth Bandstra of Dubuque, IA,

Of his original family John leaves behind three sisters: Wilma Vos and her husband, Richard, Kathryn Vroom and her husband, Robert of Pella, Bernice Kredit of Phoenix, AZ and his sister-in-law, Luella Bandstra of Pella. He also leaves the following brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Rev. Martin Zylstra of Grand Rapids, MI, Evelyn Zylstra of Grand Rapids, MI, Joann Zylstra of Grinnell, IA, Harriet Zylstra, Quintin and Alice Zylstra of Pella, Seymour"Zeke"and Carla Zylstra of Sully, IA Bertha and Jim Talsma of Colfax, IA, Revena and Frank Gritters of Pella, Rolland"Duke"Zylstra of Pella, Linda and Donald Rus, Arthur and Verna Zylstra of Pella; along with numerous nephews and nieces and a host of other relatives and friends. John was predceded in death by his parents, Bart and Mary Bandstra; four sisters: Gertrude Bandstra, Mary Jane who died in infancy, Ada and her husband, Charles Spoelstra, Dorothy and her husband William Zuidema; two brothers: Paul Bandstra and his wife, Beulah, Henry Bandstra, two brothers-in-law: Ray Hugen and Herman Kredit; his parents-in-law, Rienk and Johanna Zylstra; along with the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Carol(Martin)Zylstra, Ivan Zylstra, Ludolph Zylstra, Robert Zylstra, and Pat(Rolland)Zylstra. John made profession of his faith at the Leighton Christian Reformed Church in Leighton, Iowa just prior to his induction into the military service during WWII. His faith continued to carry him through life and he remained a faithful member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa. John was also a member of the Van Veen-Van Hemert American Legion Post No.89 of Pella. He will be remembered as a gentle, loving man with a big heart!

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 30, 2011 at 10:30 am at Calvary Christian Reformed Church, Pella, Iowa. Interment will follow in the Oakwood Cemetery in Pella with military honors. Visitation will begin after noon on Friday at the Calvary Christian Reformed Church where the family will be present Friday from 4-7 pm. The family requests that memorials in his memory be designated for the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, Hospice of Pella or the Good Samaritan Fund at Wesley Life.