Johannes Van Walbeek was born on June 4, 1928, on the family farmstead Dwarskade, Abcoude near Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. He was the second of eleven children that were born to Cornelius and Wilhelmina Catharina (Van Dien) Van Walbeek. Johannes (Jo) attended Waver Christian School for six years and then went to Amsterdam Carpentry School until the war. Jo helped on the family dairy farm until the age of 20, when he immigrated to America. He arrived in Eddyville, Iowa to work for a farmer for about a year, then moved to Owatonna, Minnesota where he worked for a truck farmer. Jo returned to the Netherlands where he married Annigje (Ann) Oskam on January 17, 1951. Ann joined Jo in America three months later in Owatonna. Shortly after, they moved to central Iowa where Jo worked as a farmhand in the area until 1959 and then farmed for another ten years at Otley, Iowa. Jo and Ann then bought the Otley grocery store building and made this their home for the next 40 years. To this union five children were born: Wilhelmina Catharina, John Anthonie, Corrine Joann, Mary Ann and Conrad Jay. After retiring from farming, Jo worked different jobs and did maintenance work at the Pella Community Hospital until his retirement in 1993. Following their retirement Jo and Ann took on part-time work for the Corps of Engineers, working at Red Rock campgrounds. For 15 years Jo and Ann spent their winters as snowbirds in Labelle, Florida. In September 2009, they moved to Pella, Iowa. Ann passed away on October 19, 2011, at the age of 80 years. In April 2013, Jo moved to the Manor in Pella and passed away on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at the age of 87 years at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House in Pella. Those left to cherish his memory are his five children, sixteen grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.

Wilma Van’t Sant and fiancé Jim Blom of New Sharon, IA
Jeffery & Tina Van’t Sant
Sabrina
Jacob
Kevin & Sheri Van’t Sant
Jared
Jocelyn
Michael & Stephanie Van’t Sant
Kenneth
Carter
Cheryl & Dustin Pleima
Landen
Alexis
John and Carol Van Walbeek of Blue Grass, IA
Julia & John Madden
Sarah
Andrew
Ruth
Joseph & Leah Van Walbeek
Ethan
Benjamin & Natalie Van Walbeek
Corrine and Verle Boot of Pella, IA
Kyle & Brenda Boot
Elisabeth
Keith & Michelle Boot
Charlotte
Vanessa & Jim Sedrel
Robert
Lena
Hensley
Mary Harvey-Hixson and John Hixson of Pleasantville, IA
Christopher & Chelsea Schippers
Claire
Zachary & Lindsey Schippers

Conrad and Nicole Van Walbeek of St. Paul, MN
Sebastian & Husna Van Walbeek
Zarina
Johan
Spencer & Jade Van Walbeek
Hayden
Samuel Van Walbeek
Ana-Sophia Van Walbeek

Jo leaves behind the following brothers and sisters : Tunis & Gerrie Van Walbeek of Pella, Christina (Stieny) & Jan Karsemeyer, Jan and Willie Van Walbeek, Corrie & Jan Gijesl, Bert & Adrie Van Walbeek all of Holland, Willy and Piet Oussoren of Canada; and a sister-in-law, Bette (Anthony) Oskam of Newton, Iowa. Preceding Jo in death were his wife, Ann Van Walbeek; a granddaughter, Rachel Van Walbeek; two sons-in-law, Curt Harvey and Edward Van’t Sant; his parents, Cornelius and Wilhelmina Van Walbeek; an infant sister, Corrie, his sisters, Geertje, Maria (Rie) and her husband Jan Verhoef; his brother Cor and his wife Nely Van Walbeek; his brothers-in –law, Gerrit Griffeon, Cees Oskam and his wives, Truus and Adrianna, Anthony Oskam, and a sister- in- law Mary and her husband Henk Staat. Jo was a faithful member of Otley Reformed Church in Otley, Iowa where he and his wife, Ann, had served the Lord diligently as custodians. Jo was born and raised in the Netherlands, but was always proud to be an American citizen. Jo’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were always a high priority to him and he loved them dearly and prayed for them daily. He will be remembered for his faithful devotion as a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother and as a humble servant for the Lord.

[Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home web site]