Herman Sietstra

Herman Sietstra, 88, of Boyden, Iowa died Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. A visitation will be held Friday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 6-8PM at the Demco Center of Boyden. A prayer service for family and friends will be held Saturday at 10:15AM at the Demco Community Center of Boyden. Interment will follow the prayer service in Sheridan Township Cemetery of Boyden. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 11AM at First Reformed Church of Boyden with Rev. Matthew Draffen and Chaplin Wendell Brenneman officiating. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center, IA. Herman Sietstra was born on July 12, 1922 to John and Tena (Hoekstra) Sietstra near Sheldon, Iowa. Herman was raised on the family farm near Boyden, Iowa and attended school in Sheldon and Boyden. Herman entered the US Army on November 3, 1943. He served in the Pacific Theater during World War II in the American Division as a machine gunner. After he contracted Dengue Fever and Hepatitis he became assigned a truck driver. Herman returned to the Boyden area to farm after receiving an honorable discharge on February 9, 1946. On February 5, 1948 he was joined in marriage to Edith De Zeeuw at her parent's home in Sioux Center, Iowa. Following their marriage, Herman and Edith farmed southeast of Boyden where they raised their four sons and two daughters. Herman was a member of the First Reformed Church of Boyden where over the years he served as a deacon, elder and Sunday school teacher. He served on the Sioux County Zoning Commission and on the board of directors for the Boyden Farmers Co-Op Society. In his later years he enjoyed singing with the Senior Saints. A personal goal he attained was translating the Boyden First Reformed Church consistory meeting minutes from Dutch to English for the church's centennial celebration. Herman was particularly proud that six of his descendants served our country in military service. Herman is survived by his wife of 63 years, Edith Sietstra of Sheldon; six children: John and Linda Sietstra of Springfield, MO; Phil and Marcia Sietstra of Sioux Falls; Larry and LaVonne Sietstra of Boyden; Karla and Dave De Jongh of Rock Valley; Dale and Lila Sietstra of Sheldon; Cheryl and Dennis Rodger of Storm Lake; 19 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Also surviving are two brothers and sisters-in-law: Peter and Lois Sietstra of Boyden and Martin and Joyce Sietstra of Pella, IA; a sister, Reka Sietstra of Jenison, MI; the De Zeeuw in-laws: Frances Schuiteman and Adrian Punt both of Sioux Center along with numerous nieces and nephews. Herman was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Tillie and Gelf Vander Boon; in-laws: Doris and Herman Harmelink, Joan and Andrew Brenneman, Gertrude Punt, Freda and Peter G. Mouw and Arthur Schuiteman.