Van Donselaar, Gilbert 1915-2012

VAN DONSELAAR, WANDERS, GROENENBOOM, VAN HAAFTEN, DE BRUIN, BERGMAN, VAN MAANEN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/5/2024 at 12:26:00

Gilbert Van Donselaar
October 30, 1915 - March 1, 2001

Gilbert Van Donselaar was born on October 30, 1915, to John and Nellie (Wanders) Van Donselaar near Prairie City, Iowa. He attended country school near Leighton, Iowa, graduating from the eighth grade. He made profession of faith at the Leighton Christian Reformed Church.

On February 27, 1941, Gilbert was united in marriage with Cornelia Groenenboom at her parents’ home near Oskaloosa, Iowa. To this union four children were born: Marge, Shirley, Robert, and Peggy. They moved to a farm southeast of Pella where he lived and farmed for sixty-eight years. Cornelia died on March 1, 2001, shortly after celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary.

Gilbert continued living and helping on the farm for another eight years. He was living at the Oskaloosa Care Center when he went to be with his Lord on July 4, 2012, at the age of ninety-six.

Gilbert and Cornelia spent many years traveling across the country and spent nineteen winters in Cary, Mississippi, volunteering with the Luke Society. He was also active in the Gideons, served as an elder in the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella, and was a charter member of the Covenant Reformed Church in Pella. Those left to cherish his memory are: his four children and their spouses: Marge and Marvin A. Van Haaften of Pella, Shirley and Ronald De Bruin of Pella, Robert and Kathleen Van Donselaar of Pella, and Peggy and Dale Bergman of Lamont, Michigan; thirteen grandchildren; and twenty-five great-grandchildren. Of his original family Gilbert leaves one brother, Carl Van Donselaar of Pella; one sister, Mildred Van Maanen of Pella; and one sister-in-law, Rena Van Donselaar of Oskaloosa. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Louis in infancy, Albert Van Donselaar of Oskaloosa, Lewis (Jennie) Van Donselaar of Oskaloosa; brother-in-law John Van Maanen; sister-in-law Hendrika Van Donselaar; and a grandson Daniel De Bruin.

Gilbert will be remembered as a loving father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He had a deep love for the Lord and a great enthusiasm for life.

Funeral services were held Saturday, July 7, 2012, at the Covenant Reformed Church in Pella. Burial took place at the Black Oak Cemetery. The Garden Chapel Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
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Published on July 13, 2012
Memorial Tree
In Memory of Gilbert ~ The Des Moines (IA) Register 07 July 2012.