Obituary of Herbert Eugene Dykstra

Herbert Eugene Dykstra, 84, of Newton, formally of Monroe, died Friday, December 3, 2010, at his home in Park Centre in Newton. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, December 6th, at the Monroe United Methodist Church. Visitation with the family present will be Sunday afternoon from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the Pence ~ Reese Funeral Home in Newton. Burial will be at Silent City Cemetery in Monroe. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Monroe United Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church of Newton and Silent City Cemetery in Monroe. The son of John William Dykstra and Mary Irene Crane, Herb was born May 2, 1926 in Monroe, Iowa. He was united in marriage to Crystal B. Dingeman on July 25, 1948, at the Monroe United Methodist Church. Herb was a graduate of Monroe High School in 1943. He served his country in the United States Army during World War II. He was a member of the Monroe United Methodist Church. Herb began working at Jasper Mutual Insurance Association on September 11, 1947 (Hawkeye Mutual). He was the president of Dykstra Insurance Agency and served on the board of directors at IMT from 1965 - 1999. Herb was a past president of the Iowa State Mutual Board and served on various committees on a national level. He also served a term on the general advisory committee for Des Moines Area Community College. Herb loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed visiting family and friends at his home in Florida and Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri. He had a love for country music and became close friends with many entertainers in the Ozarks. Herb is survived by his wife of 62 years, Crystal, his son, Tim (Patty) Dykstra of Newton and his daughter, Roxann (Jim) Wormley of Newton; four grandchildren, T.J. (Amy) Dykstra of Altoona, Angie (Kasey) Barnes of Newton, Krysten (Jeff) Osby of Newton and Kyla Wormley and her fiancé, Bob Knudson of Newton; seven great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Olivia and Jacob Barnes, Kylie, Mason and Dallas Dykstra and Grant Osby. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Dorothy Wood and Laurel Dykstra.