Mary Jean Wynja

Mary Jean Wynja, age 96, of Sioux Center, Iowa died Wednesday, November 15, 2023, at Crown Pointe Care Center in Sioux Center.  

A funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, November 18, 2023, at Centerpoint Church in Sioux Center with Rev. Stephen Breen officiating.  Interment will follow the service in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center.   The service will be livestreamed at www.wearecenterpoint.com/watch

A visitation will be held from 9:30 AM until the time of the service at Centerpoint Church.  

The Wynja family prefers memorials be directed to Hope Haven. 

Mary Jean Wynja was born August 29, 1927, in Sioux Center, Iowa to John and Dina (Hubers) De Zeeuw. She grew up on a farm outside of Sioux Center.  She attended country school and graduated from Sioux Center High School.  She was proud to have participated in the state spelling bee.

On March 11, 1949, Mary Jean was joined in marriage to Joe Wynja in Sioux Center.  She and Joe lived in Sioux Center and attended the First Reformed Church (Centerpoint) where Mary Jean enjoyed using her beautiful voice to sing in various choirs.  Joe passed away on November 28, 1990.  

Mary Jean worked for First National Bank for a few years and then became a loving caretaker for her son, Harlan who had cerebral palsy.  She faithfully cared for him until he died on January 6, 1998. 

Mary Jean was a part of the Esther Circle for many years. She enjoyed a good cup of coffee and for over 35 years she gathered with a group of friends once a month for a time of fellowship. Mary Jean enjoyed quilting and made many for her family.  She also met with a group of quilters at church for a number of years until she was forced to stop due to her failing vision.   She liked to cross stitch and do embroidery and made many flower sack dish towels for her family.  She was an avid reader and prayer warrior.  Her heart was to be a caretaker and loved to have Sunday dinners at her home with her family. 

Those who survive her are four children: Brent and Maggie Wynja of Ames, Iowa; Les Wynja of Sioux Center; Nancy and Dave Olivier of Rock Valley, Iowa and Carl and Lori Wynja of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; 5 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren with 2 on the way; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Wynja of Melvin, Iowa and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, a son, Harlan, brother and sister-in-law, John E and Greta De Zeeuw; a sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Reinard Dykstra; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Wessel and Dorothy Wynja, Chris and Dorothy Wynja, Christina and Willis Ruisch, Jim Wynja, Edna and Bud De Groot and Dorothy and Marv Uittenbogaard.