Pearl VanRyswyk

VanRyswyk, Pearl
Pearl VanRyswyk, 86, of Peoria, AZ. Pearl was born in Pella, IA on December 5, 1924. Her parents were Nick and Nellie (Kooyman) VanGorp, and she was the 7th child in a family of 3 boys and 5 girls. She lived at Pella, IA until she was 10 years old, and then her father moved to a farm at Prairie City, IA. This is where she met her future husband Gerrit VanRyswyk at the Christian Reformed Church. They attended the same Sunday School and Catechism classes and were married in the church in 1947 by her brother-in-law, Reverend William Kolenbrander. Pearl graduated from Pella Christian High School and then worked in Des Moines for the Roth Company. She was very good in mathematics and was sent by the company to be trained in IBM computers. She later became Supervisor of the computer department for the company. After her marriage to Gerrit, they lived in Des Moines, IA and were transferred with Gerrit's work to Omaha, NE in 1960. Here they helped and worked to establish the Omaha Prairie Lane Christian Reformed Church with only the Minister and the VanRyswyk family as members. They were transferred to Denver, CO in 1967 and in 1971 moved to the Phoenix area. Pearl loved to travel, and with her husband visited 22 foreign countries and traveled the United States in their recreation vehicle. She was an avid cross word puzzle fan and always did them in red ink. She was a 40 year Collector of antiques and fine art pieces. She specialized in, and was well known among Collectors for her knowledge of rare antique dolls. She was a Denver and Phoenix Antiques Dealer for 30 years. Pearl passed away on April 25, 2011, in Peoria, AZ and will be laid to rest in Green Acres Cemetery in Scottsdale, AZ. She is survived by two beloved daughters, Debra Barker and Diane Kimbell and much loved son-in-law Bruce Kimbell, grandchildren; William Barker and Bruce and Stacey Kimbell, as well as great granddaughter Paige. She is preceded in death by her mother, father and brothers as well as Gerrit and Paul Van Gorp and sister Cornelia. Visitation 4:00-7:00 p.m., Friday, April 29, 2011 at Menke Funeral Home, 12420 N. 103rd Ave., Sun City, AZ. Services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 30, 2011 at Grace Bible Church, 19280 N. 99th Ave., Sun City, AZ.