Judy Kay Vander Pol

November 12, 1941 - October 5, 2016

Judy Kay Vander Pol, age 74, of Pella, passed away Wednesday, October 5, 2016. She was born November 12th, 1941 to Henry and Ida (Ver Steeg) Van Ekeren in Pella, IA. She was one of five daughters. Judy was a graduate of Pella High School in 1959 and spent time at Northwest Missouri State College. She married her high school sweetheart, Max on January 28th, 1961, in Pella Iowa at the First Baptist Church. They moved in 1962 to Columbus, Nebraska and she spent three years working at Dale Electronics. In August of 1962, Terry was born. In January of 1965, Max and Judy moved back to Pella, IA where they opened up the Steakhouse. In December 1974, Aandrea (AJ) was born. In October, 1975 Jon and then in February, 1977 Leslie was born. Max and Judy ran the Steakhouse and then Cleats & Spikes from 1965 to 1991. In 1991, Judy worked for the Pella Town Crier until 2003 when she had her strokes and retired. During all of this, Judy loved working at Vander Teau tree farm planting trees, shearing them and seeing all the faithful customers’ year over year. Judy was passionate about the League of Women Voters, playing poker at Prairie Meadows and being involved in all the grandkids activities. Judy is survived by her spouse and loving husband of 55 years Max, three daughters – Terry (Tessa and Kieran) of Pella; Aandrea and Pat Beary (Joe, Valerie and Stephanie) of Lovilia, IA and Leslie and Chad Johnston (Cody and Mackenzie) of Pella, and her sisters, Martha (Hank)Vande Voort and Linda (Les) Klyn, as well as many nieces and nephews. Judy is preceded in death by her son, Jon, her parents, Henry and Ida, two sisters, Betty Conklin and Katie Stepleton, her In-laws, Hazel and Lester Vander Pol, and a son-in-law Nick Voss. If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to the Pella Hospice Comfort House. They provided phenomenal care for mom in her final weeks.