Ray Wierda

Ray Wierda, 89, of Sheldon, IA, formerly of Sioux Center, IA, died Friday, January 16, 2015, at Sanford Sheldon Senior Care in Sheldon, Iowa. A memorial service will be held on Monday at 2:30PM at Central Reformed Church with Rev. Van Rathbun officiating. Interment will be held prior to the memorial service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. The Wierda family prefers memorials to Sanford Home Health and Hospice of Sheldon. Reynold "Ray" Wierda was born April 1st, 1925, to Martin and Rena (Faber) Wierda in Sioux Center. He attended grade school in Sioux Center until he contracted Sydenham's chorea and was bed-ridden for three years. He resumed his studies but quit school after the 8th grade and went to work in the painting business with his dad. When he was 15 he secured a job unloading chocolate at the Palmer Candy Company in Sioux City, Iowa. He roomed briefly at his brother's house, George and Iona Bakker, and then moved into a rooming house on 26th and Pierce. At 16 he worked for the Metz Baking Company. A year later he caught a ride with his parents who went to visit his sister Henrietta in San Diego California. He remained there during the war (WWII), working at the Douglas Aircraft Factory in Long Beach moving airplane wing sections from warehouses to the assembly line. After the war, he was laid off, so he rode back home to Sioux Center with his uncle Dick Doornink, who was also working at Douglas at that time, and went back to the painting and wallpapering business. About this time he met Peggy Hughes from Ireton on a blind date and they were wed on July 2, 1948 and the couple raised four children. In 1963 the family moved to the old Wilbur Miersma farm 3.5 miles north of Sioux Center on Highway 75. The kids have many fond memories of working, playing and growing up on the farm which prompted Ray to often comment that it was "one of the best things he and mom ever did" for his family. After his father retired, Ray and his brothers Tom and Marv took over the Wierda Painting and Decorating business, a career he worked at until his retirement at age 72. Ray and Peg then spent the next 12 years enjoying their trailer home and friends in the Conquistador Mobile home court in Mesa, Arizona. In 2014 the couple returned to Iowa and moved into the Fieldcrest Assisted Living Center in Sheldon. In earlier days, Ray enjoyed card games in the back of Doc's Café, daylong car trips with family, visiting with his brothers and sisters and fishing at local sandpits. In retirement, he could be found in the trailer court clubhouse playing cards and shooting the breeze with people. Ray also had a life-long interest in interior decorating, visiting model homes in new developments whenever he had a chance or could get one of his kids to take him. Dad loved Peg and his family and was always there for his children through all their ups and downs. Ray is survived by his four children: Daniel Wierda and his wife, Mary of New Palestine, IN; Valery Conley of Sioux Center; Bradley Wierda of Rogers, AK; and Renae Macy and her husband, Michael of Rapid City, SD. Ray's grandchildren and great grandchildren include: Brittany (Andrew) Bennett, Lauren (Jon) Magin and children: Kylie and Kyndall; Arielle Wierda, Luke Wierda, Zachary (Catrena) Macy and their children: Xander and Byshop; and Bryce Macy. Ray is survived by his wife of 66 years, Peggy Wierda of Sheldon and his sister, Myrtle (Clarence) Kiel of Orange City and many nieces and nephews. Also left to remember him are sister-in-laws: Pauline Schaller of Mesa, AZ, Nancy Jordan of Farmington, MN, Myrna (Marlin) Westra of Sioux Falls, Sally (Lowell) Caulkins of Sioux Falls, Frieda Wierda of Sioux Center, Lucille Wierda of Orange City and brothers-in-law: Jon Hughes of Winner, SD and Michael Hughes of Sioux Falls. Ray was preceded in death by his five brothers and four sisters.