Robert Terlouw

Robert Terlouw, 89, of Grinnell, died on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at St. Francis Manor in Grinnell.

A graveside service and burial will be held at 2:00 PM, Wednesday, August 16, at Sully Cemetery in Sully with Pastor Jamie Bogaard, Lynnville Friends Church officiating.

A visitation with family present will be held from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, Wednesday, August 16, 2023, at Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell, followed by a luncheon at Lynnville Friends Church in Lynnville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be designated to St. Francis Manor Foundation and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home and Crematory, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Bob’s family online at www.smithfh.com.

Bob was born on September 22, 1933, the seventh son of Henry and Alice Nikkel Terlouw on the family farm near Sully, in Jasper County. He attended Sudlow Country School as a boy and graduated from Sully Highschool. Bob went on to receive his degree in finance from C.C.C. Business College.

On November 12, 1966, Bob was united in marriage to Ella Mae Gilbert in Newton, IA. The couple resided in rural Jasper County near Kellogg. Bob worked at Kellogg Bank as a loan officer and later Vice President. Bob honorably served his country in the United States Navy abord the U.S.S. Lexington.

Bob enjoyed music, he was a talented pianist and organist and enjoyed listening to gospel quartet groups. He enjoyed flowers and spent many hours maintaining the various flower beds and trimming trees around St. Francis Manor. He traveled all throughout his life and enjoyed touring Hawaii, California, and Japan while he served in the Navy and continued to travel with his wife Ella Mae and cherished the many friendships they made while traveling.

Bob is survived by his nieces and nephews, Ronda Lanser, Dennis (Gail) Terlouw, Kevin (Kelly) Terlouw, Doug (Lori) Terlouw, Rashele (Phil) Nikkel, Maren (Dave) Scharf, and Cynthia Terlouw (wife of the late David Terlouw), and many great and great-great-nieces and nephews, cousins and special friends. He was preceded in death by his Wife, Ella Mae, his parents, four brothers and their spouses, Hank and Grace Terlouw, Gerritt Terlouw, James and Donna Terlouw, and Ollie and Lois Terlouw, two sisters Marie Terlouw and Jennie Terlouw, and two nephews David Terlouw and Daryl Terlouw.