Hattie Van Wyk was born on October 27, 1919, in a foursquare farmhouse northwest of Pella, Iowa. The youngest of Daniel D. and Hattie (Roorda) Dieleman, baby Hattie was named for her mother who died shortly after giving birth. Though Hattie thought of her mother often, she dearly loved her gentle step-mother, Lena (Van Baale) Dieleman, who modeled a faith-filled life and the importance of hard work—of which there was plenty. During Hattie’s Depression-era childhood, chores were organized by days of the week, starting with Monday “wash day” when she cranked the machine 250 times per load.

Hattie graduated from 8th grade at the European #2 Country School. A job as a butter wrapper at the Pella Creamery followed, then marriage to Elmer Van Wyk on September 9, 1941. The young couple soon settled on a farm near Otley, where they raised six children: Jerry Lee, Gene Edwin, Dennis Allen, Allen Lee, Russel Duane, and LuAnn Evon.

Energetic, positive, charitable, hardworking, and resilient, Hattie consistently found joy in the everyday. From sunrise to well past dark when she knelt by her bedside in prayer, Hattie often could be heard cheerfully singing as she mopped up muddy boot tracks, peeled mounds of homegrown potatoes for supper, and hung sparkling whites on the clothesline. As a grandchild once marveled, “Grandma even makes pulling weeds fun!”

Moving from farm life into town in 1973 left a void that Hattie filled by volunteering regularly, waitressing at Central Park Cafe, playing cards with friends, and caring for a steady stream of grandchildren that she sugared up with red licorice and love. With Grandma Hattie, each child had an attentive audience and knew to be the favorite.

Hattie valued honesty, non-judgmental listening, and contentment in God rather than things. Though she suffered a significant midlife hearing loss, she remained a gifted, compassionate listener. And having endured several heartbreaks, including the deaths of two beloved sons, she continuously encouraged others in the simplest of ways: a homemade pie, an invitation to lunch, a phone call, or a handwritten letter in her distinctive script reassuring that God is always in control.

Hattie went to her heavenly home on September 7, 2020, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House at the age of 100. She leaves behind four children and their spouses, two daughters-in-law, 15 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, beloved nephews and nieces, and numerous friends.

Her children and their families include:

Jerry L. And Elaine (Van Gilst) Van Wyk of Pella, IA
Curtis and Wendy Van Wyk of Kyrgyzstan
Calla, Erika, Hanneli, Isabel, Nial, Theo, and Zadie Van Wyk
Joan and Dave Davidson of Des Moines, IA
Nathan and Devon Davidson of Aurora, IL
Wesley James
Joshua and Grayson Davidson of Dubuque, IA
Micah, Alayna, Elabeth, Gabe, Bethany, and Charlotte Davidson
Jill Van Wyk
Jude, Max, and Esme Hekman

(Gene E. Van Wyk) Mary (Van Rheenen) Van Wyk and Duane Van Maanen of Pella, IA

Leasa and Mike Jansen of Pella, IA
Alyssa (Jansen) and Bill Nolte of Cedar Rapids, IA
Liam and Charlotte Nolte
Danielle Jansen of Pella, IA
Zachary and Malia Jansen of Pella, IA

Sandra and Jake Fancher
Jack and Hattie Fancher

Russell and Amy Van Wyk
Meredith Van Wyk

Dennis A. Van Wyk of Eugene, OR
Chad and Samantha Van Wyk of Eugene, OR
Shaun Van Wyk of Portland, OR
Crystal Van Wyk of Portland, OR

(Allen L Van Wyk) and Deb (Jansen) Van Wyk and Dan Groenenboom of Pella, IA
Shawn and Hillary Vande Kieft of Pella, IA
Elijah, Gideon, Noah, Silas, and Ephraim Vande Kieft
Cory and Abbi Vande Kieft of Pella, IA
Micah Vande Kieft
Kayla Van Wyk

Russel D. and Jana (De Vries) Van Wyk of Cary, NC
Brian Van Wyk

LuAnn E. and Jim Brandsen of Ankeny, IA
Sarah Brandsen and Darius Teo of Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Johann Teo
Maya Brandsen

Hattie was preceded in death by her parents, her step-mother, her parents-in-law, her husband, sons Gene and Allen, her daughter-in-law Lynda, her brothers Gerald, Daniel, and Willis Dieleman; and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Hattie attended Otley Christian Reformed Church and later became a charter member of Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella, where she was a faithful member the remainder of her lifetime. She prayed daily that her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren would know Jesus and put their faith and trust in Him alone.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference. —Reinhold Niebuhr