Elmer Richard Van Wyk was born on April 9, 1921, in Jasper County, north of Sully. He was the tenth of 11 children born to Dick and Anna (Hoksbergen) Van Wyk. He was baptized at the Sully Christian Reformed Church where he made profession of his faith at an early age. He received a grade school education at the Sully Christian Grade School.

On Sept. 9, 1941, he married Hattie L. Dieleman. Their marriage was made special by sharing similar goals. Elmer and Hattie were blessed with six children: Jerry Lee, Gene Edwin, Dennis Allen, Allen Lee, Russell Duane, and LuAnn Evon.

Elmer was a successful cattle buyer who enjoyed trips to sale barns around the Midwest. He was also a lifetime farmer, who was known as an honest man in his dealings. Though he and Hattie had lived in Pella for the past 30 years, his favorite place was still on the farm.

Elmer and Hattie were blessed with nearly 63 years of married life and on their 60th wedding anniversary their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren gathered in a little country church to watch them renew their vows.

Elmer attended the Otley Christian Reformed Church in Otley until it disbanded. He then became a member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella where he was a faithful member the remainder of his lifetime.

He enjoyed reading and teasing and had a good sense of humor. He will be greatly missed by his family.

Elmer, 83, of Pella, died Tuesday, May 11, 2004 at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House.

Elmer was preceded in death by his son Gene E. Van Wyk who died in 1998, at the age of 52 years; a daughter-in-law, Lynda (Dennis) Van Wyk; his parents; four brothers, William D., Raymond, Lester and Clarence Van Wyk; and three sisters, Emma Van Wyk who died in infancy, Emma Jochems and Triny Jansen.

He is survived by his wife, Hattie; four sons, Jerry Van Wyk and his wife, Elaine of Pella, Dennis Van Wyk of Eugene, Ore., Allen Van Wyk and his wife, Deb of Reasnor, and Russell Van Wyk and his wife, Jana of Cary, N.C.; a daughter, LuAnn and her husband, Jim Brandsen of Ankeny; a daughter-in-law, Mary Van Wyk and her husband, Duane Van Maanen of Pella; 14 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; a brother, Louis Van Wyk of Pella; two sisters, Henrietta (Henry) Beyer of Pella and Anna (Dick) Van Weelden of Sully; two sisters-in-law, Anna Pauline (Lester) Van Wyk of Sully and Reva (Clarence) Van Wyk of Grinnell; a brother-in-law, Dan Dieleman and his wife Marie of Pella; and a sister-in-law, Willa Mae (Willis Dieleman) and her husband, Elvin Bensink of Montezuma.