Marilyn Joyce Zevenbergen

Sibley, IA

Marilyn Zevenbergen, age 88 of Sibley, Iowa, died Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at the Osceola Regional Health Center in Sibley.

Visitation will be next Friday, April 4th, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, with the family present at the Christian Reformed Church in Sibley, IA.

Funeral service will be at 1:30 PM next Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the Christian Reformed Church in Sibley, with Pastor Ben Wiersma and Mel Zevenbergen officiating.

Family and friends will gather at the church at noon on Saturday for the final viewing and prayer, then travel to the Holman Township Cemetery for burial before the service.

Marilyn Joyce Zevenbergen was born on April 1, 1936, in Sibley, Iowa, the daughter of Mella and Dorothy Dykstra. She was raised on the family farm near Sibley, graduated from Western Christian High School in Hull, Iowa, and then worked at the Sibley ASCS office for 3 years. She was united in marriage to Donald Zevenbergen on February 8, 1957, at the Sibley Christian Reformed Church. Marilyn was a devoted wife and mother, working alongside Don on the farm. When the children were school-age, she worked at the grocery store in Sibley from 1968 – 1984 and then worked in the office at the Sibley bag plant from 1984 – 2002, when she retired. Marilyn liked to watch sports. She attended her children’s sporting activities throughout high school and attended as many sporting events as she could for her grandchildren, both near and far.

Marilyn was a lifetime member of the Sibley Christian Reformed Church where she also served as an organist for 61 years and as the secretary for 43 years. She enjoyed music, sewing, cross-stitching, jigsaw puzzles, and spending time with her family. Don and Marilyn enjoyed traveling, often to visit family across the country. Marilyn lived on the Dykstra family farm for 83 of her almost 89 years of life.

Marilyn’s love greatly impacted her family.

She is survived by her children: Doris and LaVerne Waalkes of Wichita, KS, Gary and Paula Zevenbergen of Arvada, CO, Melvin and Julie Zevenbergen of Lake Park, IA, and David and Lynn Zevenbergen of Edmond, OK. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and siblings Bill and Helene Dykstra of Blomkest, MN, and sister-in-law Alice Dykstra of Sheldon, IA.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Zevenbergen, parents, Mella and Dorothy Dykstra, and siblings Dale and Irma Beekman, John Dykstra, Dorothy Mae Dykstra, and Dick Dykstra.