Johanna Punt, age 98, of Sioux Center, Iowa died Monday, December 11, 2023, at Sioux Center Health in Sioux Center.

Romans 14: 8,9 "At every turn life links us to the Lord, and when we die we come face to face with Him. In life or death, we are in the hands of the Lord."

Johanna's was a life well-lived….filled with faith, family, servanthood, purpose, and humor.

Being the oldest daughter in a family of 15, her servant spirit was well developed as she cared for her younger brothers and sisters in her early years. She went to school at the Carmel country school and was nurtured in her faith at Carmel Reformed Church. She excelled in playing the piano as well as the organ and always had a lovely singing voice. She used these talents to serve the church as a young person.

She and Arnold Punt were married November 16, 1949, and Johanna's aspirations of being a faithful wife, loving mother, and living the farming life were realized. Until………God called them into the life of ministry which meant they would be creating "HOME" in many different locations.

Johanna's skills of home-making and hosting were fully employed as they took on many different congregations over the years as their family. Every place they moved to became HOME through Johanna's special skills of saving memories while making new ones in each location.

She was a great cook! Fragrances of fresh-baked bread or homemade soups and the occasional Stroop Waffle production added to the HOME experience. Her plants always seemed happy to thrive under her care as well……..she had a very Green Thumb!

The tradition of fun and competition was very much a part of visiting Grandma as the grandkids would surely attest. She was a wiz at card games of all kinds, Heartland Strategy, Rummikub, etc.

Johanna was very faithful in passing on the Faith to her children and grandchildren. I'm sure her prayers covered us all many times.

Her benediction to us was….."The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn His face toward you and give you Peace"…………….Until we meet again!

She is preceded in death by her dear husband, Rev. Arnold Punt, her parents Henry and Minerva Sandbulte, siblings: Bernard Sandbulte, Jim (Janice) Sandbulte, Milton (Thelma) Sandbulte, Kenny (Florence) Sandbulte, Delmar (Betty) Sandbulte, Muriel (Bob) Oostra, brothers-in-law Harold VanMaanen, Arnold VanKley, Clarence VanVoorst.

She is survived by her siblings Lois VanMaanen, Norma (John) Boogerd, Henrietta VanKley, Carol VanVoorst, sister-in-law Leona Sandbulte.

Children and Grandchildren:

Marla (Rick) Voorhies and their children:

Andrea (David) Vode, Kindra (Andrew) Tanis, Ryan (Sarah) Voorhies

Fonda (Tom) Paarlberg and their children:

Adam (Julie) Paarlberg, Elizabeth (Christopher) DeVries, Matthew (Nicole) Paarlberg

Arnold Jr. (Pam) Punt and their children:

Aaron (Elsie) Punt, Jason Punt, Nathan (Lindsey) Punt

LeAnne (Dean) Hengst and their children:

Nick (Courtney) Hengst, Dylan (Tierra) Hengst, Ben (Sophie) Hengst

Great Grandchildren:

David, Caleb, Peter, Michael Paarlberg

Paige, Cooper Vode

Anna, Eleanor, Wesley Paarlberg

Mabel, Betsy DeVries

Brooklyn, Madison, Emma, Benjamin Tanis

Claire, Ellen Voorhies

Atticus, Edmund, Marilla Punt

Leora Punt

Kaia Hengst



Funeral Service: 15 December 2023 - Carmel Reformed Church - rural Rock Valley, Iowa
Rev. Dave Van Kley
Interment: Carmel Cemetery - rural Rock Valley, Iowa
Arrangements: Memorial Funeral Home - Sioux Center, Iowa

Source: Memorial Funeral Home