Ella Anna Louise Stehr was born in Hamburg, Germany, on November 22, 1909. She was baptized in the family Lutheran Church in Schwerin, Germany. During this time many were immigrating to the United States for better opportunities and when Ella was 11 months old her parents, Henry and Minna (Luckow) Stehr, and her brother, Kurt, came to America. They arrived in Norfolk, Nebraska, later moved to Chicago, Illinois and finally settled on a farm near Grand Rapids, Michigan. On April 27, 1929, she was united in marriage with Cornelius Rook, who was employed at a furniture factory in Grand Rapids and Ella was employed as floor manager at a department store in the same city. By the end of that summer they moved to Iowa on a farm that he owned near Indianola where they lived until 1934. It was here that their two sons were born: Herman Cornelius and Lawrence Harold. They eventually moved to a farm north of Pella, Iowa where their daughter, Shirley Ann was born. They resided there until they retired and moved to Pella in 1956. Ella and Case (as he was known), lived at 1327 Main Street. He passed away on December 31, 1981. Ella continued living in the same house for the next 21 years until moving to Vriendschaap Village Assisted Living in Pella where she had many friends. In March of 2009, to be near her daughter, she became a wonderful addition to the Hiawatha Care Center in Hiawatha, Iowa. On Tuesday morning, July 28, 2009, she passed away at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, four months prior to her 100th birthday. Surviving are two children and their spouses, 7 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren: Herman and Marcella (Goemaat) Rook of Pella and their four children: Carol and Verlan Van Dyke and their three children: Michael, Kevin and (Ashley), Bradley; Laureen and Marlin Van Wyk and their three children: Lance and (Amanda), Cody, and Katelyn; Keith and Lynn Rook and their two children: Jared and, Jordan; Larry Rook and his son, Nacy; Shirley and Harlan Nieuwsma of Marion, Iowa and their three children: Steven and (Peggy Prince) and his three children: Benjamin and his son, Keegan, Alison, and Katie and her son, Mason; Julie Ann (Nieuwsma) and Brian Waggoner and their five children: Samuel, Joseph, Joshua, John and, Ella Christine; David and Elizabeth Nieuwsma and their three children: Jacob, Jennifer and Stephanie. Of her original family Ella leaves one sister, Lucille Finkbeiner of Middleville, Michigan. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cornelius Rook; her son, Lawrence, who died on March 15, 1964; her parents, Henry and Minna Stehr; her brother, Kurt; a sister, Elizabeth, a brother Walter and her brother Harry. One of Ella's last adventures was deciding to apply for United States citizenship. She began studying in her 30's but never took the test. On July 24, 1998 she became a citizen, one of the oldest that day, and felt so very proud and happy. Ella was the oldest member of the Heartland Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa. A special thanks to staff at Vriendschaap Village for their wonderful care and friendship and to Reverend Ross Davidson for his many heartwarming visits. Thanks also to the staff at Hiawatha Care Center, Dr. Mary Ann Nelson, and St. Luke's Hospital for their wonderful care and friendship.


For those desiring, memorials may be designated for the Heartland Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa.

Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home