Obituary of Catherine Wanders
Catherine Wichhart was born on March 6, 1913, at rural Tracy, IA. She was the oldest child of three children born to John and Grace Van Roekel Wanders. She lived on the farm with her parents and attended Union Grade School west of Tracy. She made profession of faith at Tracy Christian Reformed Church at the age of eighteen, where she also taught Sunday School. She worked outside the home doing housework.
On September 11, 1940, she was united in marriage with Marion Wichhart at the home of her parents. To this union a daughter, Janice, was born in July, 1941, and a son, Ronald was born in December of 1943. Catherine became a member of the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella after her marriage.
Marion and Catherine farmed east of Pella until their retirement in 1994 when they moved to Fair Haven East in Pella.
Catherine was a member of the Junior Helping Hand Society at First Christian Reformed Church. She also was a member of the Pella Christian High Auxiliary. She worked for twenty years as a volunteer in the Pella Hospital Snack Bar. She also worked as a chairman of the South Lake Prairie District for over twenty years.
Catherine passed away at the Pella Comfort House on January 1, 2005, at the age of ninety-one years, nine months and twenty-six days. Those who will cherish her memory are her husband, her two children and their spouses, eight grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren. Of her original family Catherine leaves a sister, Wilma Van Zee of Pella; a sister-in-law, Nellie (William) Wanders of Phoenix, Arizona; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Esther and Jake Jansen of Pella.
She is preceded in death by her parents and brother William Wanders of Phoenix, Arizona, a grandson, Edwin Duane Rolffs, and many brothers and sisters-in-law.
Catherine was a member of the Covenant Reformed Church as well as Lamp Lighters Society and attended an adult Bible Study group. Catherine enjoyed gardening, making quilts, crocheting, traveling, playing cards, and being with friends.
Marion Wichhart
Marion Wichhart, son of Willem and Nellie Vos Wichhart, was born on January 31, 1915, just southeast of Pella, Iowa. He was the eighth of ten children. His first job was working as a mechanic at the Diamond Creek Coal Mine.
On September 11, 1940, he was united in marriage with Catherine Wanders, a daughter of John and Grace Van Roekel Wanders. To this union two children were born: Janice Marie and Ronald James. He farmed east of Pella for 53 years.
Marion enjoyed woodworking and taking care of the apple orchard on his farm. In 1994 Marion and Catherine moved into FairHaven East of Pella. They enjoyed travelling, volunteer work at Carey, Mississippi, playing Skip-Bo, and being with their children and grandchildren. Catherine was called to her eternal home on January 1, 2005.
Marion had served as an elder and deacon, and was a board member of Pella Christian Grade School and the Pella Farmers Cooperative Exchange. He was currently a member of the Covenant Reformed Church.
Marion was called to his eternal home on December 12, 2009, at the age of ninety-four years at Hospice of Pella Comfort House.
Marion will be remembered as faithfully serving the Lord and providing a Godly example for his family.
Those who will cherish his memory are his two children and their spouses: Janice and Marvin Rolffs of Oskaloosa and Ronald and Linda Wichhart of Pella, eight grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, his sisters-in-law Wilma Van Zee of Pella, Iowa, and Nellie Wanders of Glendale, Arizona, and many dear nieces and nephews.
Marion was the last surviving member of his original family. Marion was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Wichhart; parents Willem and Nellie Wichhart; his parents-in-law John and Grace Van Roekel Wanders; his sisters and brothers and their spouses: Elizabeth and Dingeman Verros, Marie and Ed Keuning, Nellie and Peter Boerefyn, Christina in infancy, Wilma and Wm. Van Hall, Chris and Henrietta Wichhart, Adam and Jeanette Wichhart, Esther and Jake Jansen and Milton Van Waardhuizen, and Charles and Connie Wichhart; his brothers-in-law William Wanders and John R. Van Zee; and grandson Edwin D. Rolffs.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, December 16, 2009, at the Covenant Reformed Church in Pella. Burial took place at the Oakwood Cemetery. The Pella Garden Chapel Funeral Home were in charge of the arrangements.
Pella Chronicle
December 28, 2009