John Elmer Terpstra

John E. Terpstra, 83, of New Sharon passed away Thursday evening, December 26, 2013, at the Mahaska Health Partnership in Oskaloosa. John Elmer Terpstra, son of Nick and Jennie (Vanden Heuvel) Terpstra, was born July 26, 1930, at the rural home of his parents near Lacey, Iowa. After finishing the eighth grade at Lacey School, John joined his father and brother Richard in working the family farm. Early on they raised purebred Chester White breeding stock and from 1965 to 1979 John was a breeding stock producer for Kleen-Leen, Inc. From 1972 to 2012, John was a certified soybean grower for several seed corn companies. He loved farming as a way of life; his pride and passion was planting a straight corn row and he did his own planting through the 2012 season. Many will remember John because of the 100s of auctions he cried as auctioneer for Terpstra Auction Service. He had the privilege of crying the 4-H livestock auction at the Southern Iowa Fair for over 50 years. John was an avid bowler, participating in Monday Night League and attending tournaments for many years. John married Phyllis Holm in May 1950; to this union four children were born. They later divorced. He married Mary Cathryn McDowell in Ottumwa in 1978. John is survived by his wife of 34 years, Mary of Oskaloosa; his children: Vickie Terpstra of Des Moines, Cynthia L. (Terry) Fenaglio of Knoxville, and Ronald G. Terpstra of New Sharon; stepchildren: Billy Hart of Ottumwa, David (Tina) Hart of Chariton, and Jimmy Hart of New Sharon; two grandchildren: Tim Fenoglio and Brian Fenoglio, both of Knoxville; a great-grandson, Bret Fenoglio and a great-great-granddaughter, Lia Fenoglio; several step-grand-children and step-great-grandchildren; and two sisters: Nancy Van Zee of Oskaloosa and Alida Terpstra of Grand Rapids, MI. In addition to his parents, John was preceded in death by his son, James and two brothers: Richard and John Martin Terpstra. Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 30, 2013, at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church with Pastor Phil DeBoef officiating. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 a.m. in the church fellowship hall. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., Sunday, at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will be present from 1-3 p.m. to greet visitors. Memorials may be made to the Sale Barn at the Southern Iowa Fair Grounds. PDF Printable Version

John Elmer Terpstra

July 26, 1930 - December 26, 2013