Donald Sjaarda

Donald Sjaarda, age 83 of Maryville, Tennessee formerly of Sioux Center passed away Sunday, March 25, 2012 at Blount Memorial Hospital in Tennessee. A visitation will be held on Friday from 5-7PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A graveside service will be held on Saturday at 11AM at the Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center with Rev. Van Rathbun officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grandview Baptist Church, 2208 Tuckaleechee Pike, Maryville, TN 37803. Donald Sjaarda was born in Orange City, IA, to Nicholas C. Sjaarda and Dirkje (Mulder) Sjaarda Donald was one of 5 children and upon his father's death, worked hard as a farm hand while attending the local one room schoolhouse. After graduating from high school, with WWII in full force, Donald joined the Army where he served from 1946-1948. After the war, Donald took advantage of the GI Bill to become the first person in his family to become a college graduate, graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indiana Institute of Technology in 1952. During his time in college, Donald met and married Beverly Fouse who was also studying at a nearby business school. After Don's graduation, both he and Beverly moved to Michigan where Donald took a job with the local electrical utility company, Consumers Power, where he worked for 39 years. During this time, the couple had two children, Karen Lee and Raymond Nicholas who now survive their father. While raising his family, Donald delighted in taking family trips, short and long, to allow his children to have many adventures and experiences that he could not have as a child. Donald retired and moved to Tennessee with Beverly, after seeing his children successfully through university. Beverly subsequently died in 1997 in Knoxville TN. Donald and Peggy McClintock met after Beverly's death and were married in 2006 and have lived together in Maryville TN since. Donald was raised in the Reformed Church and remained a dedicated Christian throughout his life. Donald and Peggy attended the Grandview Baptist Church in Maryville, where Donald was able to rediscover the joy of Bible study and fellowship at the church. Survivors include his wife, Peggy L. McClintock of Maryville, TN; children, Karen Sjaarda Bland and husband James Bland of Austin, TX, Dr. Raymond Sjaarda and wife, Dr. Terri Delay of Baltimore, MD; grandchildren, Alexandra Sjaarda and Andrea Sjaarda both of Baltimore, MD; three stepchildren, Kim Headrick of Maryville, TN, Col. Gary L. Bledsoe and wife Barbara of Omaha, NE, Jeri L. McClintock and friend Karen Moore of Mount Union, PA; two brothers, John and his wife Gertrude Sjaarda of Sioux Center and Marvin and his wife Bertha Sjaarda of Paulina, IA; sister-n-law, Mina Sjaarda of Valley Spring; step-sister, Ida Storer of Sioux Center as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Beverly (Fouse) Sjaarda; brother, Clarence Sjaarda; sister and brother-in-law: Winifred and Gerald Reinders.