Phyllis Jean Veenendaal was born on November 5, 1932, at Pella, Iowa. She was an only daughter born to Marinus and Sarah Stouwie Veenendaal. Phyllis attended the Pella Christian Grade School and made her home with her parents as a young girl. On September 15, 1953, she was united in marriage with Paul Lauterbach. The first day of their honeymoon, September 16, 1953, he was killed in a tragic automobile accident. Phyllis continued to make her home with her parents. On May 28, 1959, she was united in marriage with Arthur Henry Bokhoven at Pella. Art had lost his first wife, Freda Fern Pothoven, on August 4, 1953, at the young age of 28 years due to infectious hepatitis, and his youngest daughter, Darlene Gail, at the age of 2 ½ years on November 8, 1953, in a tragic automobile accident south of Sully, Iowa. Phyllis and Art and his older daughter, Karen Joy who was born on October 17, 1948, became a family and were joined by three other children: Jeffrey Dean who was born on July 19, 1961, Kelvin Eugene on November 14, 1962 and Lisa Mae on September 19, 1966. Following their marriage Phyllis and Art built their home west of Pella, which at that time was Dr. Verploeg's pony farm. Art operated his own feed business under the name, Swine Consultant Services, while Phyllis was a dedicated homemaker. For many years she worked as a beautician cutting hair. Phyllis enjoyed doing hand work, quilting and doing volunteer work. On Sunday morning, May 10, 2009, she passed away at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella at the age of 76 years, 6 months and 5 days. Those who will cherish her memory are four children and their spouses, 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. They and their families are: Karen and Harvey Schreur of Princeton, Minnesota; Jeffrey and Kari L. (Venenga) Bokhoven of Pella, Iowa; Kelvin and Jodi L. (Staker) Bokhoven of Pella, Iowa; Lisa M. and Bruce Freesemann of Altoona, Iowa. Phyllis was the last surviving member of her original family and leaves her sister-in-law, Mary (Jerry) Veenendaal of Pella; along with the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Jeanne (Bokhoven) and Dr. Clarence Vos of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Irene (Bokhoven) and Lawrence Blom, Dena Bokhoven, Anne Bokhoven all of Pella, Leonard and Ruth Roose of Phoenix, Arizona, Marie (Herman) Bokhoven of Pella; Ruth (Lauterbach) of Council Bluffs, Iowa and Gertrude (Lauterbach) Burch of Cedar Falls, Iowa. Phyllis was preceded in death by her two husbands: Paul Lauterbach, and Arthur Bokhoven who passed away January 21, 2001; her parents, Marinus and Sarah Veenendaal; her parents-in-law, H. W. and Antonia Bokhoven; her two brothers: Jerry Veenendaal, LeRoy Veenendaal and his wife, Patricia; and the following brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Herman Bokhoven, Gerrit Bokhoven and his wives, Wilma and Lilla (Dee), Minnie (Bokhoven) Roose, Anthony and Caroline Bokhoven. Phyllis was an active, faithful member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella where she enjoyed quilting and sewing. Her family remembers her sitting on the northwest corner of the square during each parade of Tulip Time, watching for her late husband, Art Bokhoven, as he walked by ringing his bell as Pella's Town Crier and later for her son Kelvin, who inherited that role. The love she had for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and the enjoyment and pleasure she experienced being surrounded by family and friends will be a cherished memory for her family. Online condolences may be made at www. vandykduven.com. Arrangements by Van Dyk- Duven Funeral Home.


The family has designated Hospice of Pella or Chronic Disease Fund for memorial contributions.

Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home