August 19, 1949 – July 16, 2022

Harold Gorter, 72, of Pella, Iowa, passed away Saturday, July 16, 2022, as the result of a tractor accident. Funeral services were held Friday, July 22, 2022, 10:30 a.m., at Covenant Reformed Church, Pella.

Harold Jay Gorter was born August 19, 1949, to Fred and Tena (Kelderman) Gorter, in Rock Rapids, Iowa. He grew up in Southwest Minnesota. Harold attended Edgerton Christian Grade School and graduated in 1967 from Southwest Christian High School in Edgerton, Minnesota. He went on to attend DeVry Institute of Technology in Chicago. While Harold was attending DeVry he worked at a gas station and the La Marche Plant making battery chargers. During his time in Chicago he met Ruth through mutual friends. He was united in marriage on August 30, 1974, to Ruth Ilene Wassink in Pella, Iowa. To this union they were blessed with three children: Howard, Harley, and Rachel.

He began his career at Vermeer Corporation in 1972, starting on the baler line. He worked as a service technician for the ag equipment traveling many miles across the country. He worked as the Ag Service Manager and then as the Regional Solutions Manager. While working he traveled internationally, experiencing many adventures. He retired July 6, 2020, after 48 years of service.

Harold contracted Covid at the end of August 2020, and spent a month in acute care at MercyOne in Des Moines, and two months in rehab at The Bridges in Ankeny. God blessed his recovery and he returned home to his usual activities, while adjusting to the long-term Covid effects. 

He enjoyed taking his restored tractors in parades and has enjoyed several tractor rides, seeing the country at a different pace.

Harold had a strong faith. He was a member of Covenant Reformed Church where he served as deacon, elder, and many years as Cadet counselor. He also served on the board of Pella Christian Grade School and Pella Christian High School.

Harold enjoyed gardening and bringing vegetables to the Marion County Fair and the Iowa State Fair. He enjoyed watching grandchildren’s activities and challenging them at games. He was “Mr. Fix-It” for anything needing repair or not. He enjoyed being outdoors and hunting – especially turkey and deer.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Ruth of nearly 48 years and their family: Howard and Melissa (Wergin) Gorter, Sherwood, Arkansas, Lucas, Preston, Colin; Harley and Stacey (Talsma) Gorter, Clive, Iowa, Henry, Oliver, George; Rachel and David Dick, Hancock, Minn., Hazel, Silas, Mabel. Harold is also survived by his sister Norma Santema of Harrisburg, South Dakota, his brother-in-law Steve Bullerman of Burnsville, Minnesota, sister-in-law and brother-in-law Karen and Rod Blackford of Hartford, Iowa, and sister-in-law Greta Wassink of Carlisle, Iowa.

Those preceding him in death are his parents, Fred and Tena Gorter, his parents-in-law, Henry and Gertrude Wassink, his sister, Beverly Bullerman, his brother-in-law, Bob Santema, and his nephew, Kelly Feikema.