Published: October 10, 2008 02:32 pm            

Tudor Ver Meer

Tunis G. Ver Meer was born on January 5, 1915 at the Wheatgrow farmhouse, three miles east of Pella, Iowa. He was the oldest of two children that were born to Gerrit A. and Anna (Blom) Ver Meer. “Tudor” as he was known, received his formal education at the Wheatgrow country grade school and graduated from Pella High School with the Class of 1932. On February 12, 1941 he was united in marriage with Dorothy Myrtle De Zwarte, a daughter of John and Marie (Goemaat) De Zwarte, in his parent’s farm home. To this union three children were born: Jerry Lee, Donald Wayne, and Rosemary Ann. Following their marriage, Tudor and Dorothy continued farming the family farm three miles east of Pella until 1978 when they moved into their home at 1004 Franklin Street in Pella. Farming was a way of life for Tudor and his family. Tudor never lost his love for his flat farmland, but marveled at God’s majestic mountain peaks, during their travels to Western states. Tudor’s family remembers fondly the Saturday night dinners at KFC in Knoxville and Oskaloosa, Iowa. Dorothy was called home to her eternal Father on April 27, 2001. In January of 2005 Tudor became a resident at Vriendschaap Village until his health needs required more advanced care. He then became a resident of the Long Term Care Unit of the Pella Regional Health Center. Tudor lived his final months of his life there until he was called to his eternal home on September 29, 2008, at the advanced age of 93 years. Those who will cherish his memory are his three children and their spouses, Jerry L. and Ruth (Verschuure) Ver Meer of Pella, Rosemary and Jerry Terborg of Pella and Donald W. and Donna (Van Wyngarden) Ver Meer of Longmont, CO ; nine grandchildren, and seventeen great- grandchildren.

Tudor was the last surviving member of his original family. Of his wife’s family he leaves his sister-in-law, Margaret and her husband, Vernon Menninga of Pella, and his brother-in-law, Verlan De Zwarte and his wife, Betty of Chariton, Iowa. Tudor was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy M. Ver Meer, his parents, Gerrit and Anna Ver Meer, his parents-in-law, John and Marie De Zwarte, his sister, Ella and her husband, Nick Menninga, a sister-in-law, Jennie and her husband, Henry Van Essen, and a great-grandson, Jordan David Loomis. Tudor had served as an Elder and Deacon, a board member of Pella Christian Grade School, Dordt College, Christian Opportunity Center and the Pella Farmers Cooperative Exchange. He was currently a member of the Covenant Reformed Church in Pella. Tudor had a positive attitude, enjoyed God’s creation, and had a steadfast love for his family. Tudor will also be remembered as faithfully serving the Lord and providing a Godly example for his family. Funeral arrangements by Van Dyk- Duven Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials for the Pella Christian High School Athletic Fields, Pella Christian Grade School or Covenant Reformed Church.

        

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