Melvin Duane Fynaardt

Melvin Fynaardt, 75, of New Sharon passed away Saturday morning, June 21, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. Melvin Duane Fynaardt, son of Tunis and Jacoba Henrietta (Rozenboom) Fynaardt, was born May 21, 1939, south of Oskaloosa at the rural home of his parents. When Melvin was 7 years old, the family moved to a farm two miles east of Taintor in N.W. Mahaska County; this was the place he lived, worked and raised his family until the time of his death. Melvin was a graduate of Peoria Christian Grade School and Pella Christian High School. He married Carol Zimmer, August 30, 1961, at Peoria Christian Reformed Church. Melvin’s life was comprised of his faith, his family and his farm: he was a member of the Peoria Christian Reformed Church where he served on the consistory and the school board for the Peoria Christian School. Melvin passed his love of farming on to his sons, as well as his carpentry and mechanical skills. In spite of his ill health, within two weeks of his death Melvin was able to enjoy dry walling a grandson’s home and planting and hoeing the garden for his wife. Melvin’s life was one of service and he was happiest when he could be serving others. His family includes his wife of 52 years, Carol of New Sharon; sons: Dale (Davona) Fynaardt of New Sharon, and Dennis Fynaardt of New Sharon; five grandchildren: Adam (Erin) Fynaardt of New Sharon; Bret (Stacie) Fynaardt of New Sharon, Paige (Kody) Roos of Altoona, Nicholas (Hope) Fynaardt of Pella and Kara (Joseph) Dirksen of Denver; four great grandchildren: Luke, Hudson, Addison and Emeri; two brothers: Leland (Edna) Fynaardt of Sully and Kenneth (Marge) Fynaardt of Pella; a sister, Carolyn (Bill Heethuis) Van Zee of Caledonia, MI; and sister-in-law, Dona Fynaardt of Oskaloosa. In addition to his parents, Melvin was preceded in death by a brother, Leo Fynaardt; a brother-in-law, Allen Van Zee; a sister-in-law, Joyce Beyer; and his parents-in-law, George and Ann Zimmer. Funeral Services for Melvin will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 25, 2014, at Peoria Christian Reformed Church with Pastor John C. Roose officiating. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 a.m. preceding the service in the lower level of the church. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., Tuesday, at Garland-Garland-Langkamp Funeral Chapel; the family will be present from 4-7 p.m. to greet visitors. It is recommended that accessing the funeral home from Market ST and then E. Glendale Rd. is best due to street repairs on N. Third ST. Memorials may be made to the Peoria Christian Grade School. PDF Printable Version

Melvin Duane Fynaardt

May 21, 1939 - June 21, 2014