Grace Janet (Fopma) Beyer

Grace Janet (Fopma) Beyer, 96, of Pella; formerly of Sully, died on Thursday, June 27, 2019, at Jefferson Place in Pella.  A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at the Sully Christian Reformed Church.  The family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m., Monday, July 1, at the church.  Memorials to the Ruth Circle or the L-S Community Education Foundation may be left at the church the day of the service or at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory.

Grace, the daughter of Simon and Jennie (Jansen) Fopma, was born on March 22, 1923 at the family home north of Lynnville. The weather that day was so bad that her father had to take a horse and sleigh to get the doctor for her birth.  Growing up, Grace attended rural schools north of Lynnville.  Grace had numerous funny stories to share about her school years as she may not have been the model student.  

On January 6, 1947, Grace was united in marriage with Harold Beyer and her life as a farmer’s wife officially began.  They farmed east of Reasnor, south of Galesburg, west of Montezuma, and south of Searsboro. Farm life was not always easy with a tornado doing massive damage in 1956, outdoor bathrooms, frozen water pipes, and an occasional milk cow that would send Grace for a roll.  Through it all she preserved, putting in a large garden each spring to provide food for her family.  In 1984, Harold and Grace sold the family farm by Searsboro and made their home in Sully. Even after moving to town, a large garden would take up most of the back yard.  Grace and Harold would enjoy giving garden goodies to their friends and neighbors. 

Grace was a long time member of the Sully Christian Reformed Church where she spent many hours participating in sewing days and attending ladies’ society meetings.  In addition to gardening, Grace loved to bake.  Her children and grandchildren benefited from many angel food cakes on their birthdays and would always find time to sneak over to her house around “coffee time” every day for a sweet treat.  Grace was also faithful in sending cards for birthdays, anniversaries, and other celebrations and received many in return.  She always had a love for doing jig-saw puzzles and when her friends and family would visit it was customary to contribute a piece or two to whatever puzzle she was working on.  

Grace is survived by two sons, Dwight (Joyce) Beyer of Hannibal, Missouri and Russell (Charlotte) Beyer of Pella; daughter-in-law, Linda Beyer of Springdale, Arkansas; seven grandchildren, Shawn (Jennifer) Beyer, Jason (Kerri) Beyer, Chantelle (Brett) Lundberg, Emily (Matt) Ver Meer, Mallory (Brett) Bradshaw, Krisha (David) Horn, and Kendi (Brandon) Arndt; 15 great-grandchildren, Harrison, Hudson, Zachary, Lucas, Cody, Dylann, Derek, Chase, Claire, Nora, Eva, Luke, Ruth, Hannah, and Micah; her sister, Sylvia Nieuwsma of Pella; and sisters-in-law, Theda Fopma of Grinnell and Waltressa “Wally” Fopma of Pella.  She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Harold Beyer; son, Melvin Beyer; grandson, Scott Beyer; siblings, Charles (Kathleen) Fopma, Bernie Fopma, Don Fopma; and a brother-in-law, Henry Nieuwsma.  

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