Dorothy Van Der Pol, 95, passed away on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Dorothy Mae Van Der Pol, daughter of Gerrit and Sara (Buwalda) Van Gorp, was born May 25, 1930, in Pella, Iowa.
Dorothy grew up on a farm north of Pella where her parents farmed. As a youngster, she attended country school and later attended Pella Christian High School, graduating with the class of 1948. As a young girl, Dorothy made her Profession of Faith at the Sully Christian Reformed Church.
Dorothy was united in marriage to Gerald Melvin Van Der Pol on February 22, 1951, at the Sully Christian Reformed Church in Sully, Iowa. To their union, seven children were born: five sons and two daughters.
The family moved to Newton, Iowa, for a few years before moving east of Oskaloosa, where they bought a farm. Dorothy cherished her faith and family and raised her children on the family farm. She also worked outside the home, driving a school bus and working in school food services for over 30 years.
After moving to Oskaloosa, they became members of the Bethel Christian Reformed Church, where she remained a member. She was an avid baker, often baking multiple loaves at a time, freezing some and giving many to family and friends. She was a terrific gardener and canned many items for family and friends. She also refinished many pieces of furniture, always finding use for well-worn items. Dorothy was blessed to visit Holland and other European countries with Peggy, Kevin, and Kristi.
She will be remembered as a servant to all. Loving people, baking, cooking, or simply lending a listening ear were some of her most wonderful traits. Her true love was her family, and Dorothy loved being with and watching her grandchildren.
Dorothy’s family includes her children: Jerry (Sondra) Van Der Pol of Oskaloosa; Verle Van Der Pol of Leighton, Iowa; Peggy (Kevin) Van Wyk of Pella, Iowa; Ron (Vicki) Van Der Pol of Oskaloosa, Iowa; Sherry (Jeff) Auld of Marion, Iowa; Randy (Melissa) Van Der Pol of Maricopa, Arizona; and Michael (Angie) Van Der Pol of Ottumwa, Iowa; 20 grandchildren: Molly (Tim) Staroba, Mathew (Amy) Van Der Pol, Joshua Van Der Pol, Sarah (Derek) Ashman, Luke Van Der Pol, Leah (Joshua) Clark, Angie (Jonathan) Craig, Jenni (Adam) Nordaker, Kristi (Kriss) Brining, Jesse (Erica) Van Der Pol, Jacob (Lexi McGlothlen) Van Der Pol, Timothy (Haley) Van Der Pol, Bradley (Alyssa) Van Der Pol, Lauren Bushlack, Alexa (David) Kirby, Jackson Van Der Pol, Nathan Van Der Pol, Breanna (Codey Shepard)Bartlett, Tyler Bartlett; 26 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Eugene (Luana) Van Gorp of Oskaloosa, Iowa.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Melvin, a grandson, Ben Van Der Pol, and grandson-in-law, Johnse Bushlack, a great-grandson, Samuel Bushlack, six sisters: Bernice Van Gorp (in infancy), Lucille Van Kooten, Wilma Monast, Leona De Ruiter, Ruth DePenning, Ila Joyce Van Gilst and three brothers: Marvin, Freeman, and Verlan Van Gorp.
Funeral service will be held on Friday, May 29, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa, with Pastors Rick Baarda and Doug Van Der Pol officiating. Burial will take place at the Evergreen Cemetery near Leighton, Iowa. Visitation will begin at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 28, 2026, at Langkamp Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa, with the family present from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to greet relatives and friends. Memorials may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Mahaska Health Hospice Serenity House.
