John Halma

Inwood, IA: John Halma, 88, died Sunday, December 15, 2013 at Fellowship Village in Inwood, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at New Life Assembly of God Church in Inwood with Rev. Tim Ryals officiating. Burial will follow at Richland Cemetery. Visitation will be held Tuesday, December 17, 2013 at Porter Funeral Home in Inwood from 4:00-8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00-8:00 pm. Condolences may be left for the family at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

John was born June 2, 1925 between Rock Valley and Lebanon, Iowa son of Harry and Hilda (Miedema) Halma. He grew up southwest of Inwood and attended Rock Valley Christian School through the 8th grade. John worked for various area farmers until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving from October 1943 to July 1946 as a medical corpsman in the 1st Marine Division. He participated in the invasion of Okinawa and on occupation duty in China. After returning from the service he worked at Morrells in Sioux Falls for two years before farming northeast of Inwood. He received his GED in 1970. John married Ella Mae Kuyper on June 29, 1948 at Inwood. To this union were born four children; Merlin, David, Bruce, and Suzanne. John and Ella Mae moved to a new home in Inwood in March of 2003. Ella Mae passed away on May 31, 2003. John moved to the Fellowship Village on November 2, 2007.

He is survived by sons, Merlin (Kathleen) Halma of Inwood, Bruce (Kathryn) Halma of Sioux Falls, SD; 5 grandchildren, Lance, Loren, Ryley, Kelly, and Logan; 3 great-grandchildren, Patrick, Bailee, and Elizabeth; 4 brothers, George (Ann) Halma, Martin (Ruth) Halma, Roger (June) Halma, Clarence (Connie) Halma all of Inwood; 3 sisters, Frieda (Bert) Veldkamp of Bellflower, CA, Albertha Johnson of Spearfish, SD, Rena (Don) Cannegieter of Rock Valley, IA; sisters-in-law, Alice Halma and Judy Halma both of Inwood; and other extended family.

John was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Ella Mae; infant daughter, Suzanne; son, David Halma; brothers, Charles and Sam Halma; brothers-in-law, Lawrence Gorter and Rus Johnson.