Minderd L. Mars 94 of Primghar passed away on Sunday March 16, 2014 at the Primghar Care Center in Primghar.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 A.M. Wednesday March 19, 2014 at the American Reformed Church in Primghar; Rev. Dennis Hietbrink will officiate.
Burial will be in the Prairie View Cemetery in Paullina. Military graveside services will be provided by Russell West Post American Legion of Paullina.
Visitation will be after 3 P.M. on Tuesday March 18, 2014 with the family present from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday at the Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Primghar.
Minderd Lige Mars, was born March 19, 1919 in Seney, Iowa, the son of Lige and Grietje (Baas-Brouwer) Mars. He was raised in Seney where he attended country school. He then helped out on the family farm. He joined the U.S. Army in 1942 serving until being discharged in 1946. During W.W. II, he was in the Philippine Islands. After his discharge he returned to Iowa and was united in marriage to Lois Osborne at the Seney Methodist Church on December 6, 1946. Following their marriage Minderd and Lois farmed around the Paullina area for 49 years. Upon his retirement they moved to Primghar. He passed away on Sunday, March 16, 2014 at the Primghar Care Center reaching the age of 94 years, 11 months and 27 days.
He was a lifetime member of the American Reformed Church in Primghar and served on the consistory and was a catechism teacher. He was also a member of the Russell West Post of the American Legion of Paullina.
Faith, family and farming is what Minderd held dear. He enjoyed camping with family and friends. Working with the neighbors and having coffee together with them was an enjoyable time for him.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Lois of Primghar; four children, Dennis (Barbara) Mars of Primghar; Phyllis (Dan) Rohlfsen of Paullina; Ruth (Gordon) Wittrock of Primghar; Barbara (Randal) Simmelink of Orange City; six grandchildren, Kevin (Jennifer) Mars of Primghar; Tracy (Shonda) Wittrock of Primghar; Tim (Sherri) Wittrock of Paullina; Terry Wittrock of Paullina; Austin Simmelink of Charter Oak and Jennifer (Joshua) Van Es of Alton; nine great grandchildren; his in-laws, Jean Buss of Paullina; Bill (Betty) Osborne of Montevideo, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Minderd was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Peter, Jake and Andrew Mars; and sisters, Jacoba Pennings, Cynthia Hofland and Tena Kramer.
