Stella Dahm was the youngest of three children that were born to Bert and Marie(Van Genderen)Dahm. She was born on August 31, 1923, near Peoria, Iowa where she spent the beginning years of her life. Stella received her elementary education at the Peoria Christian Grade School in Peoria. On February 20, 1947, she was united in marriage with Harold Pothoven at the Peoria Christian Reformed Church in Peoria.
Following their marriage Stella and Harold began farming west of Peoria and to this union two sons were born: Darl Wayne and Dennis J. Following the completion of their education Darl and Dennis pursued their respective careers in North Carolina and Washington. In 1960 Stella and Harold moved to her parents farm southwest of Peoria where they were engaged in the farming operation and resided the remainder of their married life.
Stella maintained a huge garden of flowers and a meticulous yard of two acres. She enjoyed the country side and seasons of the year and the family farm remained very dear to her heart. When not outdoors Stella did sewing and made many, many quilts which she shared with family and others. Stella's family was very important to her. She compensated for her partrial loss of hearing by writing her sons letters weekly and connecting with her grandchildren and their lives via email. On Tuesday morning, November 22, 2011, Stella passed away at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella, Iowa at the age of 88 years.
Stella is survived by her husband of 64 years, Harold; her two sons and their wives, five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. They and their families are: Darl and Carrie Pothoven of Durham, North Carolina and their three children: Kate and Ralph Knowles of Caribou, Maine and their daughter, Avery, Jeff Pothoven of Spartanburg, South Caroline, Jennie and Michael Dougherty of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Dennis and Cheryl Pothoven and their two children: Chris Pothoven and Meredith Pothoven all of Mercer Island, Washington. Of her original family Stella leaves her sister-in-law, Arvena(J.B.)Dahm of Pella; and the following sisters-in-law and brother-in-law: Ruth(Pothoven)Ozinga of Pella and Martha faye(Pothoven)and William Vander Meyden of Oskaloosa, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bert and Marie Dahm; her parents-in-law, John and Golda(Tysseling)Pothoven; her brother, Jacob B. Dahm, her sister, Christine, and her husband Vernon A. Van Ee; and the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Freda Fern(Pothoven)and Arthur Bokhoven, Lester and Johanna Pothoven, and Arnold(Ruth Pothoven)Ozinga.
Stella was a lifelong, faithful member of the Peoria Christian Reformed Church in Peoria and witnessed her faith through her servants heart.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 10:30 am at Peoria Christian Reformed Church, Peoria, Iowa. Interment will follow in the Peoria Cemetery at Peoria, Iowa. Visitation will be Friday at the Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella, IA with the family present from 4-6 pm. For those desiring, a memroial will be established in her memory.
Harold Pothoven was born on June 14, 1923, in Mahaska County east of Pella, Iowa. He was the fourth of six children that were born to John and Golda (Tysseling) Pothoven. Harold received an elementary education at the Peoria Christian School in Peoria, Iowa and then began working as a farmhand. In 1944 he was drafted into the United States Armed Forces and was stationed in Germany during World War II. Harold was discharged in 1946 and on February 20, 1947, was united in marriage with Stella Dahm, a daughter of Bert and Marie (Van Genderen) Dahm. They were married at the Peoria Christian Reformed Church in Peoria and to this union two sons were born: Darl Wayne and Dennis J. Following their marriage Harold and Stella began farming west of Peoria and provided opportunities for their two sons to pursue their respective educations. In 1960 the family moved to the Dahm family farm southwest of Peoria where Harold was engaged in farming. He witnessed many changes in the farming operation, from plowing with horses to using large tractors and implements. In 1999, he began the retirement process, eventually turning over the operation completely to Ken and Pam Vander Linden. Harold and Stella continued to live there the remainder of their married lifetime where they enjoyed maintaining the yard and Harold his coffee-times with his friends in Pella. In 2011 their respective health conditions required hospitalization, and Stella passed away on November 22, 2011 at the age of 88 years. Harold continued to be cared for at the Pella Regional Health Center and on Sunday afternoon, May 13, 2012, passed away in the Long Term Care Unit at the age of 88 years.
Harold is survived by his two sons and their wives, five grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. They and their families are: Darl W. and Carrie Pothoven of Durham, North Carolina and their three children: Kate and Ralph Knowles and their daughter, Avery, of Caribou, Maine, Jeff Pothoven of Spartanburg, South Carolina, Jennie and Michael Dougherty of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Dennis J and Cheryl Pothoven and their two children: Chris Pothoven and Meredith Pothoven all of Mercer Island, Washington. Of his original family Harold leaves two sisters: Ruth (Arnold) Ozinga of Pella, Martha Faye and her husband, William Vander Meyden of Oskaloosa, Iowa; and a sister-in-law, Arvena (J. B.) Dahm of Pella.
He was preceded in death, after 64 years of marriage, by his wife, Stella; his parents, John and Golda Pothoven; two brothers: Lester Anthony Pothoven and his wife, Johanna (Blom) Pothoven and an infant brother, Harold J. Pothoven; his sister, Freda Fern and her husband, Arthur Bokhoven and his brother-in-law, Arnold Ozinga; his parents-in-law, Bert and Marie Dahm; and the following brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Jacob B. Dahm, Christine (Dahm) and Vernon A. Van Ee.
Harold served his country honorably and was a good steward of the land God provided for him. He served the Peoria Christian Reformed Church as a Deacon and an Elder where he remained a lifelong, faithful member. He served in the community as a Richland Township Trustee and on the Board of the Christian Opportunity Center in Pella. Although they were often brief in nature, opportunities for traveling where a significant part of Harold and Stella’s lives together.
Funeral Services will be held Friday, May 18, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. Peoria Christian Reformed Church, Peoria, Iowa Interment will follow in the Peoria Cemetery at Peoria, Iowa with military honors. Visitation will begin Thursday afternoon at Van Dyk- Duven Funeral Home in Pella, IA where the family will be present Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
For those desiring, memorials may be designated for the Peoria Christian School or the Pella Christian High School in Pella, IA.
(From Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home website)