Rod Tilstra

Rodney Tilstra, 76, of Sioux Center, Iowa died Thursday, January 5, 2012 at the Sioux Center Community Hospital in Sioux Center. A visitation with family present will be held Sunday from 2-4PM at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. A prayer service for family and friends will be held on Monday at 1:30PM at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Interment will follow the prayer service in Memory Gardens Cemetery of Sioux Center. A memorial service will be held Monday at 2:30PM at the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Roger Voskuil officiating. The Tilstra family prefers memorials to the First Reformed Church of Sioux Center. Rodney Lloyd Tilstra was born May 9, 1935 near Inwood, Iowa to Walter and Alice (Ter Wee) Tilstra. He attended country school through the eighth grade and graduated from Inwood Public High School. On May 29, 1957 he was united in marriage to Nellie De Roon in Rock Valley, Iowa. Following their marriage, the couple farmed west of Sioux Center, Iowa and later settled in Sioux Center. Rod was co-owner of R & H Livestock until his retirement. Rod was a member of the First Reformed Churches in Inwood and Sioux Center. During his life, Rod served as a deacon, elder and Synod of the West delegate. Rod loved watching sports, and was fond of playing golf and baseball. He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren; his greatest desire was for his entire family to experience Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 54 years, Nellie Tilstra of Sioux Center; a daughter, Pamela De Jong of Sioux Falls, SD; three grandchildren and their spouses: Julie and Mark Van Beek of West Des Moines, IA; David and Nicole De Jong of Pella, IA; Dan and Katie De Jong of Iowa City, IA; four great-grandchildren, Mya Van Beek, Roan and Ryker De Jong, Nora De Jong. Rod is also survived by five brothers and sisters-in-law: Gerrit and Henrietta Tilstra of Canton, SD; John and Carolyn Tilstra of Sun City, AZ; Kenneth and Mary Tilstra of Sheridan, MT; Elmer and Marilyn Tilstra of Denver, CO; Merle and Donna Tilstra of Inwood; two sisters and brothers-in-law: Henrietta and Clarence Pennings of Orange City; Marcine and Lloyd Kempema of Kersey, CO; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by two sons, Randy Tilstra and Terry Tilstra; son-in-law, Brian De Jong and his parents.