Pictured: Dr. McCoy, Paige Moore, Sue Zylstra, Terry Nielsen, Matt McCoy & Jason Cromer
We are so grateful for a recent donation of $6,000 made by Sue Zylstra in memory of her late husband, Marty Zylstra. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa holds a special place in the Zylstra’s hearts, and we will forever hold them in ours.
Marty and Sue Zylstra belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Marty was the Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Iowa for 14 years until the time of his death, while Sue served as Treasurer of the International Association of Rebekah Assemblies – the female branch of the Order. As a part of this, Sue traveled throughout the U.S. and Canada attending annual meetings. In 2018, she attended a session in Ohio where she learned about their involvement with RMHC of Columbus.
With Marty being the Grand Treasurer in Iowa, she approached him about the possibility of a donation of twenty to twenty-five thousand dollars for the new RMH going in at MercyOne Hospital in Des Moines. After members of the MercyOne Foundation and MercyOne Children’s Hospital attended the annual Grand Lodge session and presented the story of RMH and how it serves families in need, not only did the Grand Lodge of Iowa donate the twenty-five thousand, they donated one hundred fifty thousand dollars.
The kitchen along with a sleeping room inside the MercyOne House are named Grand Lodge of Iowa. Marty was so proud of this donation.
On November 8th, 2023, Marty went into cardiac arrest and was on a ventilator for twelve days when God said it was time to call him home. Sue says, “There was nothing more fitting when Marty died than to have his memorials be directed to the Ronald McDonald House at MercyOne. On behalf of myself, my family, and friends, I am so honored to present to the Ronald McDonald House at MercyOne a check for $6,000. Marty truly loved the Order and what it stood for.”