Evelyn Faye Tysseling, the only daughter of Herman A. and Nelle Borgman Tysseling, was born on March 10, 1923, at the family’s country home east of Pella, Iowa.
With two brothers, Arthur and Marvin, she enjoyed a good farm life, and all three attended the Wheat Grow Country School for 8 years. Evelyn graduated from Pella High School and continued her education at Central College in Pella. After teaching school for a year at Annville, Kentucky, she accepted a position as secretary to the president of Central College, which she fulfilled for ten years.
During that time she married Calvin Lynn Joosten, who had been born and raised in South Dakota and had come to Central College to continue his education. Evelyn and Cal were united in marriage on June 14, 1951, in the Douwstra Chapel on the campus of Central College and a son, Burton Kent, was born to them in 1956.
After a period spent as a homemaker, Evelyn accepted the position of secretary at the First Reformed Church in Pella and continued to serve there for many years. She was a lifetime member of the First Reformed Church and devoted much time and energy to a variety of volunteer services there, including Sunday School teacher of all ages, Women’s Guild president and other women’s activities, serving on various committees, etc. Her greatest joy was her many years as teacher of the adults in the Golden Hour Sunday School Class.
On Saturday evening, February 14, 2009, she passed away in the Long Term Care Unit at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella at the age of 85 years, months and days.
Evelyn is survived by her son, B. Kent Joosten, and his wife, Susanne of Houston, Texas; a very special brother, Marvin Tysseling, and his wife, Mert of Pella; two sisters-in-law: Pauline (Stephen Joosten) Vander Zyl of Pella and Shirley (Lynn) Joosten of Schenectady, New York; and some very special nieces and nephews: Arlene Dahm, Willene James, Helen Goins, Jill Golrick, Jana Jordan, Beverly De Penning, Diane Nelson, Larry Joosten and Lindsey Joosten.
Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Cal Joosten, on October 25, 2000; her parents: H. A. and Nellie Tysseling; her father-in-law: Egbartus (Bert) Joosten; her mother-in-law, Clara (Joosten) Buwalda; her step-father-in-law, Andrew J. Buwalda; her older brother, Arthur Tysseling and his wife, Lucile; two brothers-in-law: Stephen E. Joosten and Rev. Lynn T. Joosten; and a nephew,P.F.C. Curtis C. Joosten.
Written by Evelyn Joosten