Fonda Pearl Kooistra

Fonda Pearl (Sandbulte) Kooistra, age 86, of Inwood, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, February 12, 2020, at the Sanford Canton-Inwood Medical Center in Canton, South Dakota. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, February 18, at the Inwood Christian Reformed Church with Rev. Adam Eisenga and Rev. Steven Kooistra officiating. Rev. Edward Suffern will be doing the graveside committal service at the Richland Cemetery of Inwood. Visitation, with the family present, will be Monday, February 17, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at the Inwood Christian Reformed Church. Fonda’s request was for memorial gifts to be given to Justice for All in Rock Valley, Iowa.

   Fonda (Sandbulte) Kooistra was born on March 24, 1933, in Carmel, Iowa; the 9th child of William and Rebecca (Wesselink) Sandbulte. She attended Carmel School, but due to health issues, she was not able to attend high school. In her later years, Fonda was determined and proud to obtain her GED. Fonda married Richard Kooistra in Carmel Reformed Church in Carmel, Iowa on June 24, 1952, at the age of 19. They had 8 children.

   Richard and Fonda farmed in Northwest Iowa until 1964 when, following the Lord's call on their lives into ministry, they moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan so Richard could attend Reformed Bible College.

   In 1968 they went into full-time ministry at Faith Chapel in Paterson, New Jersey. In 1982 the two accepted a call to First Reformed Church in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin and ministered there until 1998. The couple then moved back to Inwood, Iowa where they semi-retired and spent the rest of their days being active in their church and community.

   Fonda’s heart was always in serving beside her husband in any capacity needed. Teaching Sunday schools, leading Bible studies, cleaning the church building, leading Girls Club, women’s groups and always being at her husband’s side for countless years of visiting sick, shut-ins and even prisoners. It was her joy to serve the Lord by ministering to others. She also went on short-term mission trips to Ecuador, Mexico, and Oklahoma. She volunteered with Justice for All and for over 18 years with Crossroads Bible Institute, where she corresponded with prisoners and corrected their Bible study answers.

        Fonda was preceded in death by her husband, Pastor Richard Kooistra; sons, Douglas and Phillip Kooistra; grandson, Joel Kooistra; parents, William and Rebecca Sandbulte; brothers, John Sandbulte, Duane Sandbulte, Lloyd Sandbulte, and Henry Sandbulte; and sisters, Hermina Ykema, Henrietta Draayer, Angeline Korver, Iola Statema, and Sharon Kats.

   Fonda is survived by her children, Marlo (Kathy Knyfd) Kooistra of North Haledon, New Jersey, Steven (Donna Galbraith) Kooistra of Nappanee, Indiana, Janice (Todd) Witt of Fairbanks, Alaska, Phyllis (Michael) Verderame of State College, Pennsylvania, Lois (Edward) Suffern of Queensbury, New York, and Rachel (Armond) Floyd of Altoona, Iowa; 21 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; brothers, Howard (Bernice) Sandbulte, Glen Sandbulte, and Rodney (Carol) Sandbulte; sister, Laura (Jim) Westra; and far too many nieces and nephews to count.