Funeral services for Stevanna Roorda, 90, of Pella, who died Friday, June 16, 2000 at Pella Regional Health Center, Long Term Care Unit, were held Tuesday, June 20 at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity Reformed Church in Pella. Rev. Henry Poppen and Rev. Andy Kamphuis officiated at the services.
Interment was at Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. Stevanna's grandchildren served as casket bearers, Jakala Greig, Craig Roorda, Twyla Waters, Tood Roorda, Scott Roorda, Michael Rus, Timothy Rus and Thomas Rus. Honorary casket bearers were James Greig, Joleen Roorda, Patty Roorda, Wendi Rus, Dena Rus, Jil Roorda and Andrea Rus.
Stevanna was born April 2, 1910 in Mahaska County, the daughter of Gerrit and Minnie (Van Heukelom) Van Roekel.
She was married to Dave Roorda on January 25, 1933 in her home in rural Mahaska County. The couple made their home on a farm in rural Pella. In addition to farming for 25 years, they were custodians at Trinity Reformed Church for 13 years. Stevanna also worked in the housekeeping department of Central College, at the Town Crier, and as secretary of Trinity Reformed Church.
Stevanna was a charter member of Trinity Reformed Church, where she was very active.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, one sister, Tena Roorda; and one brother, Louis Van Roekel.
She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Wilma and James Waters of Indianapolis, Ind., and Jean and Larry Ruz of Auckland, New Zealand; one son and daughter-in-law, Donald and Elva Roorda of Pella; eight grandchildren, Jakala Greig and her husband James of Indianapolis, Ind., Twyla Waters of Memphis, Tenn., Scott Roorda and his wife Patty of Pella, Craig Roorda and his wife Jil of Omaha, Neb., Todd Roorda and his wife Joleen of Indianapolis, Ind., Mike Rus and his wife Wendi of Gilbert, Ariz., Tim Rus and his wife Andrea of Tacoma, Wash., and Tom Rus and his wife Dena of Scottsdale, Ariz.; 11 great-grandchildren, Jake Greig, Katie Roorda, Jessica and Cassie Clark, Lindsey and Allison Roorda, Tess Roorda, Hayden and Marley Rus, Rachel and David Rus; and two brothers, Richard Van Roekel and Henry A. Van Roekel, both of Pella.
Memorials may be made to Pella Regional Health Center, Long Term Care Unit or Trinity Reformed Church.
Arrangements were made by the Garden Chapel Funeral Home of Pella.
Knoxville Journal Express, June 26, 2000
Donald Eugene Roorda was born February 8, 1940, to John David and Stevanna (Van Roekel) Roorda, at their family home north of Pella. He passed away on February 7, 2019, at The Cottages in Pella.
Don attended country schools in the Pella area, and was a 1958 graduate of Pella Community High School. He was a member of the Iowa National Guard from 1957 to 1964. On April 10, 1959, he was united in marriage to Elva Mae Newendorp in the First Reformed Church in Pella. To this union they were blessed with three sons: Scott, Craig and Todd.
In high school, Don worked at Van’s Food Market, the summer after graduation he worked at Vermeer Manufacturing and Schakel Warehouse. Throughout most his career, Don was self-employed; he owned Don 66, Douwstra Wholesale and Pella Bologna Co. During retirement, he worked as a bus driver for the Pella Schools and for Garden Chapel Funeral Home.
Don was currently a member of the Third Reformed Church and was a charter member of Trinity Reformed Church.
He was a member of the Pella Golf and Country Club and the American Legion Post 89, and a former member of the Rotary Club and the Pella Jaycee’s. Don loved sports; he was a little league coach, and watched all Pella High and Central College sports, but most of all he loved the Green Bay Packers!
Don is also survived by his sisters: Wilma (Jim) Waters of Franklin, Indiana, Jean (Larry) Rus of Mesa, Arizona; and his sisters-in-law: Clara Newendorp of Pella and Freda Goemaat of Pella.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, his parents-in-law Harry and Harriet Newendorp, and his brothers-in-law: Ray Newendorp and Alvin Goemaat.
[Garden Chapel Funeral Home web site]