John Dykstra, age 86, of Sheldon, died Monday, August 26, 2024, at Prairie View Manor in Sanborn, Iowa.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Hospers Presbyterian Church with Pastor Brian Janssen officiating. Burial will be held prior to the service at Holman Township Cemetery in Sibley.
The viewing will be held on Wednesday, August 28th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home in Sibley.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Gospel Mission of Sioux City Food Pantry.
John Merlyn Dykstra was born to Mella and Dorthy (Greenfield) Dykstra on their farm in Sibley, Ia. He graduated from Western Christian High School in May 1956.
He worked as a lineman for Northwestern Bell, working his way up to a management position until his retirement in 1982. He then began bidding on underground fiber optic cable projects at Schoon Construction.
He married Alice (Oldenkamp) on November 30, 1962. They made their home in Sheldon, Ia. There they raised their three children: Michael and Sandy (Talsma), Kansas City, MO; Roxie and John DeVos, Harrisburg, SD; and Sue and Preston Kooima, Sioux Falls, SD.
They have 10 grandchildren: Libby and Ryan Kiesel, John and Katie Dykstra, Hannah and Andrew Kothmann, Michaela and David Lozoya, Cassie and Zach Vesper; Jakob DeVos and Nya Henderson and Emma DeVos; Colton and Jordyn Kooima, Rylie Kooima and Tatum and Cole Hogue. There are also 12 great-grandchildren.
His parents Mella and Dorthy, his siblings Dorthy Mae, Dick and Irma Beekman and two brothers-in-law have already passed away. Also his parents-in-law Bernard and Charlotte Oldenkamp and Chuck Oldenkamp.
John is survived by his siblings and their spouses: Marilyn Zevenbergen, Bill and Helene Dykstra, Jan and John Juffer, and Dick and Marcia Oldenkamp. John’s only consolation in life and in death was that he was not his own body, but his own.
