Courtesy of Bates Funeral Chapel:
Marion Vande Kieft, son of John D. and Johanna (Van Haaften) Vande Kieft, was born September 10, 1921, near Tracy, Iowa. He graduated from Tracy Consolidated School. He married Mildred Kelderman on December 8, 1944. To this union a daughter was born, Joann Carol, on August 17, 1946. Mildred died on August 18, 1946.
He married JoAnn Rooy on June 15, 1949. Together, they farmed near Fremont, Iowa, for 38 years. They were members of the Cedar Christian Reformed Church, and Marion served on the church council numerous times, as well as on the board of the Oskaloosa Christian grade and Pella Christian high schools.
They ran a 25,000-chicken egg-laying business on the farm. Marion also was caretaker of the Cedar Township and Cedar Memorial cemeteries for fourteen years. He and JoAnn retired in 1988 and moved to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he enjoyed his lawn-mowing business for ten additional years. They joined the Oskaloosa First Christian Reformed Church, where he served on the council and where they have remained members till the present. Marion has touched many lives with his patience, infectious laugh, wisdom, and guidance. He passed away peacefully in the loving company of family members on Friday, May 15, at Serenity House in Oskaloosa. He achieved the age of 93 years, eight months, and five days.
He is survived by JoAnn, his wife of nearly sixty-six years; three children: Arlene (and Bruce) Meinders of Oskaloosa, Marilou Ozinga of Pella, and Ron (and Becky) Vande Kieft of Kirkville, Iowa; a son-in-law, Pete Fynaardt of Oskaloosa; 12 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Henrietta Rooy of Grand Rapids, Michigan; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Sid and Mae Rooy of Penney Farms, Florida, Shirley and John Rolffs of Willmar, Minnesota, and Robert Rooy and Sally Jones of Frederick, Maryland.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mildred; daughter, Joann Carol; brother, Henry; sister, Marie (Van Kooten); and brother-in-law, John Rooy.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 19, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. in the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, with Reverend Brad Meinders and Reverend Dale Visser officiating. There will be a family prayer service at 10:15 a.m. in the basement of the church on Tuesday. Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Monday after 9:00 a.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel, and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. to greet friends and relatives.