Donald Lee Tuinstra, son of Matthew and Jeanette Vande Kieft Tuinstra, was born on April 9, 1924, on the family farm near Leighton, Iowa. He was raised and educated in Pella and Marshalltown, Iowa. Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 23, 1942. After deployments to the Atlantic, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and the Middle East, he was honorably discharged on August 27, 1945. On November 23, 1946, he was united in marriage to Erma Mae De Jong. This union was blessed with three children. Sandra Kay, Pamela Sue, and Michael Lee.
Upon leaving the service, Don entered into the Sully Implement and Hardware business with his father in Sully, Iowa. In 1956, Don purchased the Farmers Sales Company in Grinnell, Iowa, which he owned until his retirement in 1971. Since his retirement, Don and Erma have made homes in Spencer, Okoboji, and Pella, Iowa; wintering in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, before establishing residence in Mesa, Arizona. At the time of his death, he was a permanent resident of Pella. While each of these holds special memories of friends and family, it is Okoboji where he shared his love of fishing and boating with friends, family, and especially the grandchildren who always adored their PaPa. Son, Mike will always cherish the memories of hunting with his dad.
Don was a member of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, and many social, fraternal, service and business organizations.
On Saturday, October 8, 2011, at the age of 87 years, while staying at the Hospice Comfort House in Pella, Iowa, Donald went to be with his Heavenly Father. He is survived by his wife, Erma; his children: Sandra (Thomas) Pearson of Chicago, Illinois; Pamela (William) Ferguson of Altoona, Iowa; Michael (Barbara) Tuinstra of Cheyenne, Wyoming; his grandchildren: Todd (Jennifer) Pearson and daughter Hailey of Chicago, Illinois; Julie (Benjamin Jr.) Safratowich and sons Tré and Doran of Cloquet, Minnesota; Jennifer (Kenneth) Fechtner, son Brayden and daughter Brooklynn of Bloomington, Minnesota; Stephanie (Christopher) Brown of St. Charles, Iowa; two nieces, one nephew, and many cousins. Don was preceded in death by his parents Matthew and Jeanette (Vande Kieft) Tuinstra and sisters Viola R. Browne, Mildred R. Slagle, and Arlene J. Moes. Donald was baptized at the Third Reformed Church of Pella Iowa and made profession of his faith at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Upon leaving the service, Don entered into the Sully Implement and Hardware business with his father in Sully, Iowa. In 1956, Don purchased the Farmers Sales Company in Grinnell, Iowa, which he owned until his retirement in 1971. Since his retirement, Don and Erma have made homes in Spencer, Okoboji, and Pella, Iowa; wintering in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, before establishing residence in Mesa, Arizona. At the time of his death, he was a permanent resident of Pella. While each of these holds special memories of friends and family, it is Okoboji where he shared his love of fishing and boating with friends, family, and especially the grandchildren who always adored their PaPa. Son, Mike will always cherish the memories of hunting with his dad.
Don was a member of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, and many social, fraternal, service and business organizations.
On Saturday, October 8, 2011, at the age of 87 years, while staying at the Hospice Comfort House in Pella, Iowa, Donald went to be with his Heavenly Father. He is survived by his wife, Erma; his children: Sandra (Thomas) Pearson of Chicago, Illinois; Pamela (William) Ferguson of Altoona, Iowa; Michael (Barbara) Tuinstra of Cheyenne, Wyoming; his grandchildren: Todd (Jennifer) Pearson and daughter Hailey of Chicago, Illinois; Julie (Benjamin Jr.) Safratowich and sons Tré and Doran of Cloquet, Minnesota; Jennifer (Kenneth) Fechtner, son Brayden and daughter Brooklynn of Bloomington, Minnesota; Stephanie (Christopher) Brown of St. Charles, Iowa; two nieces, one nephew, and many cousins. Don was preceded in death by his parents Matthew and Jeanette (Vande Kieft) Tuinstra and sisters Viola R. Browne, Mildred R. Slagle, and Arlene J. Moes. Donald was baptized at the Third Reformed Church of Pella Iowa and made profession of his faith at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Donald Lee Tuinstra, son of Matthew and Jeanette Vande Kieft Tuinstra, was born on April 9, 1924, on the family farm near Leighton, Iowa. He was raised and educated in Pella and Marshalltown, Iowa. Don enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 23, 1942. After deployments to the Atlantic, Caribbean, Mediterranean, and the Middle East, he was honorably discharged on August 27, 1945. On November 23, 1946, he was united in marriage to Erma Mae De Jong. This union was blessed with three children. Sandra Kay, Pamela Sue, and Michael Lee.
Upon leaving the service, Don entered into the Sully Implement and Hardware business with his father in Sully, Iowa. In 1956, Don purchased the Farmers Sales Company in Grinnell, Iowa, which he owned until his retirement in 1971. Since his retirement, Don and Erma have made homes in Spencer, Okoboji, and Pella, Iowa; wintering in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, before establishing residence in Mesa, Arizona. At the time of his death, he was a permanent resident of Pella. While each of these holds special memories of friends and family, it is Okoboji where he shared his love of fishing and boating with friends, family, and especially the grandchildren who always adored their PaPa. Son, Mike will always cherish the memories of hunting with his dad.
Don was a member of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, and many social, fraternal, service and business organizations.
On Saturday, October 8, 2011, at the age of 87 years, while staying at the Hospice Comfort House in Pella, Iowa, Donald went to be with his Heavenly Father. He is survived by his wife, Erma; his children: Sandra (Thomas) Pearson of Chicago, Illinois; Pamela (William) Ferguson of Altoona, Iowa; Michael (Barbara) Tuinstra of Cheyenne, Wyoming; his grandchildren: Todd (Jennifer) Pearson and daughter Hailey of Chicago, Illinois; Julie (Benjamin Jr.) Safratowich and sons Tré and Doran of Cloquet, Minnesota; Jennifer (Kenneth) Fechtner, son Brayden and daughter Brooklynn of Bloomington, Minnesota; Stephanie (Christopher) Brown of St. Charles, Iowa; two nieces, one nephew, and many cousins. Don was preceded in death by his parents Matthew and Jeanette (Vande Kieft) Tuinstra and sisters Viola R. Browne, Mildred R. Slagle, and Arlene J. Moes. Donald was baptized at the Third Reformed Church of Pella Iowa and made profession of his faith at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marshalltown, Iowa.
Upon leaving the service, Don entered into the Sully Implement and Hardware business with his father in Sully, Iowa. In 1956, Don purchased the Farmers Sales Company in Grinnell, Iowa, which he owned until his retirement in 1971. Since his retirement, Don and Erma have made homes in Spencer, Okoboji, and Pella, Iowa; wintering in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, before establishing residence in Mesa, Arizona. At the time of his death, he was a permanent resident of Pella. While each of these holds special memories of friends and family, it is Okoboji where he shared his love of fishing and boating with friends, family, and especially the grandchildren who always adored their PaPa. Son, Mike will always cherish the memories of hunting with his dad.
Don was a member of St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, and many social, fraternal, service and business organizations.
On Saturday, October 8, 2011, at the age of 87 years, while staying at the Hospice Comfort House in Pella, Iowa, Donald went to be with his Heavenly Father. He is survived by his wife, Erma; his children: Sandra (Thomas) Pearson of Chicago, Illinois; Pamela (William) Ferguson of Altoona, Iowa; Michael (Barbara) Tuinstra of Cheyenne, Wyoming; his grandchildren: Todd (Jennifer) Pearson and daughter Hailey of Chicago, Illinois; Julie (Benjamin Jr.) Safratowich and sons Tré and Doran of Cloquet, Minnesota; Jennifer (Kenneth) Fechtner, son Brayden and daughter Brooklynn of Bloomington, Minnesota; Stephanie (Christopher) Brown of St. Charles, Iowa; two nieces, one nephew, and many cousins. Don was preceded in death by his parents Matthew and Jeanette (Vande Kieft) Tuinstra and sisters Viola R. Browne, Mildred R. Slagle, and Arlene J. Moes. Donald was baptized at the Third Reformed Church of Pella Iowa and made profession of his faith at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Marshalltown, Iowa.
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