Peter John Haverhals III

November 10, 1950-April 10, 2025

Pete courageously defeated cancer on April 10, 2025 and is now standing in the presence of his Almighty Savior, completely healed!

Born in LeMars, IA, Pete was the second of five children born to Peter J and Josephine Haverhals. He grew up on the family farm outside of Sioux Center, IA where he learned the value of a strong work ethic and a love for God’s creation.

He attended Lebanon Christian Grade School, Western Christian High and Dordt College and in 1972 he took a Junior High English teaching position in Seattle. It was there that he met another first-year teacher, Anne Jorritsma, and they were married August 9, 1973. By 1984, their family included two sons and in 1990 Pete began his second career as an accountant.

Pete was generous, always ready to give a little more of himself and his time to help others and do a job right, evident in his years as a teacher, a worship service planner, elder and deacon in his church, as well as in his regular blood/platelet donations, surpassing 200 units. He had a love of the details, seen in those summer painting jobs while a teacher and his enjoyment of accounting where everything always had to balance to the penny! His creative side was evident in his writing and flower arranging, his appreciation of theater and music, and, in retirement, in the joy he found in expanding his love of photography.

But the most important thing to Pete was that he was a child of God and he knew that was only because of God’s love and grace to him.

Pete was preceded in death by his father (1977), mother (2004), sister Gert Blom (2016), brothers Willard (2004) and Dave (1984) and niece Kinzie Dekkenga (2024).

Pete is lovingly remembered by his wife Anne, son Michael & Vyria and precious grandson Theo, son David, sister JoAnn Dekkenga, brothers-and-sisters-in-law Gord Blom, Nora Haverhals-Bohl, Mark & Ruth Jorritsma, 10 nieces & nephews, and numerous cousins.

Graveside services will be Friday, April 25 at Purdy Walters at Floral Hills in Lynnwood WA. A celebration of Pete’s life will be Sunday, April 27 at 1:30 PM at Shoreline Christian Reformed Church, 14555 25th Ave NE, Shoreline WA 98155 and will be live-streamed at www.shorelinecrc.org

Memorial gifts may be made to Taproot Theatre Company, PO Box 30946, Seattle WA 98113 and marked as “Pete Haverhals Memorial”.