Gerben P. Mars

Mr. Gerben “Gerb” Mars, age 80, of Orange City, passed away on Tuesday, January 28, 2020, at the Orange City Area Health System. There will be a funeral service on Saturday, February 1, at 11:00am, at the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. John Klompien and the Rev. Aldon Kuiper will officiate. Following a time of fellowship, interment will take place at the East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon. Visitation with the family will be on Friday, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the CHURCH. Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City. Gerben Peter was born on May 24, 1939, in Sanborn, the son of Peter and Nettie Alvina (Te Brink) Mars. He was raised in Maurice and attended the Maurice School and the Orange City Christian School. He was united in marriage to Helen Lavonne Van Wettering on June 30, 1961, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Sheldon. They first made their home in Sheldon and later moved to Orange City. As a young man, “Gerb” farmed with his Uncle Minderd near Paullina and worked at Ter Horst Oil in Orange City. For more than 41 years, he worked in sales at Northwest Implement in Orange City. In his retirement, he helped at the Oolman Farms near Orange City. Mr. Mars was a member of the Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Orange City. He enjoyed camping, fishing, coffee time at Arnold Motor Supply, and playing cards with his friends. Survivors include his wife of more than 58 years; four children and their spouses, Galen and Kristin (Reekers) Mars, and David and Lori (Herda) Mars, all of Orange City; Derrick and Sandra (Scholtens) Mars, of Orland Park, Illinois; and Starla and Ryan Hamming, of Alton; nine grandchildren, Allison and Michael Haight, Erin and Anthony Schuiteman, Brittany and Brent Aalbers, Brandon and Jesse (Krull) Mars, Breanna and Luke Kroese, Benjamin Mars, Rachel Mars, Abigail Mars, and Jada Hamming; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters and their husbands, Joyce and Henry Dykstra, of Orange City; and Donna and Gary De Haan, of Sioux Center; a brother-in-law, Calvin Bootsma, of Ireton; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and his wife’s parents, George and Jeannette Van Wettering, he was preceded in death by a great-grandson, Isaac Mars; a brother and his wife, Lester and Lorraine Mars; a sister, Patsy Bootsma; and two sisters-in-law, Arlene Van Wettering and Janice Faye Van Wettering. Memorials may be directed to the Orange City Christian School or the Unity Christian High School.