Esther Mathes was born May 22, 1914, on a farm north of Pella, Iowa. She was the fifth child born to John and Jeannette Vos Mathes. Esther received her formal education at the European No.lll Country Grade School and spent her youth on the family farm north of Pella. She liked to go to the timber along the river and pick wild flowers and enjoyed rock hunting. At an early age she began working at several country homes and was a clerk at Lee's Variety Store in Pella for many years. On February 16, 1950, she was united in marriage at the home of her parents with Herman Slykhuis, who was the fifth child born to Meyer(Martin)and Johanna Van Hemert Slykhuis. Following their marriage Esther and Herman farmed near Oskaloosa, Iowa, Iowa and then in the Pella area. She and Herman moved into Pella in the spring of 1977 and Esther continued to do domestic work while Herman was employed at Ring-O-Matic. Herman passed away on January 2, 1991, at the age of 79 years. Esther continued to live in their home, 1220 Main Street in Pella, until moving to Fair Haven East. She later became a resident at the Hilltop Manor and other care facilities until returning to Jefferson Place in Pella where she passed away Thursday morning, September 15, 2011. Esther remained a very active resident there even at her advanced age of 97 years. Esther was a lifelong, faithful member at the First Reformed Church in Pella where she attended as long as her health permitted. She began quilting when she was 6 years of age and spent many hours making quilts for missions. Of her original family of nine siblings, Esther leaves a brother, Ervin Mathes and two sisters: Evelyn(Arie)Beyer and Edith and her husband, Irvin Huyser all of Pella; a sister-in-law, Wilma Faye(Gerrit)Slykhuis of Pella; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Herman Slykhuis; her parents: John and Jeannette Mathes; the following brothers and sisters and their spouses: Valentine and Jennie Mathes, William and Beulah Mathes, Harold and Pauline Mathes, Sarah Mathes, Agnes Mathes, Mable and Edward De Vries, her sister-in-law, Johanna(Ervin)Mathes and brother-in-law, Arie Beyer; along with her parents-in-law: Martin and Johanna Slykhuis; and the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Marie(Slykhuis)and John Kool, Bertha(Slykhuis)and Anthony J. Nunnikhoven, Grace Slykhuis, Wilma Slykhuis, Gerrit Slykhuis, Elmer and Johanna Slykhuis.

Burial in Graceland Cemetery, Pella, IA.

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