De Cook, Armand Floyd 1928-2015

DE COOK, HUYSER, BRAND, DOP, VANDER WERFF, NIKKEL, WANDERS, GOODYK, VANDERWILT

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 1/19/2015 at 13:22:19

Armand De Cook

Armand Floyd De Cook was the youngest of four children that were born to Arie Frederick and Jennie (Huyser) De Cook. He was born on February 9, 1928, south of Sully, Iowa. At the age of five years his family moved to a farm near Sully where he resided for the next 80 years. Armand attended the Sully Grade School and Sully High School in Sully. Armand was skating with friends at the Oskaloosa Skating Rink in Oskaloosa, Iowa when he met Frances Alberta Brand. On December 14, 1950, they were united in marriage at the New Sharon Presbyterian Church in New Sharon, Iowa. Soon after their marriage, during the Korean War, Armand was drafted into the United States Army in July, 1951 and did his basic training in Fort Leonard, Missouri. He was then stationed in Germany for 14 months as a cook and was discharged in June, 1953. In September, 1953, he and Frances were re-united and worked together on their farm.

In June, 1954, their daughter, Ruth Ann, was born, in July, 1957, their son, Arvin Floyd, was born, and in July, 1962, their son, Mark Alan, was born. Armand was a hard working man but always still had time for his family and their respective activities. For 60 years he attended the Iowa State Fair, 30 of them showing his draft ponies and enjoyed three days of family fun with all of his children and grandchildren. He served as a volunteer at the fair for 10 years. He was a member of the Lynnville Saddle Club in Lynnville, Iowa and in 2007 was named into the Iowa Draft Pony Hall of Fame. For 30 years he served on the Jasper County Fair Board. Armand enjoyed ponies and attended the Waverly Horse Sales in Waverly, Iowa in the spring and fall, where he sold his restored horse drawn manure spreaders. Armand enjoyed riding his Farmall 350 in the WHO Iowa Tractor Ride until he became immobilized eight years ago. He and Frances enjoyed going to Branson, Missouri and Montana. It was truly a blessing that Armand was able to live on the same farmstead for 80 years until their health necessitated a move from their farm.

In 2013 they became residents at the Heritage Manor in Newton, Iowa where they shared a room together and recently celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Armand passed away on Thursday morning, January 15, 2015, at the Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 86 years. Those who will cherish his memory are his wife, Frances, of Newton and their family. They are: Ruth Ann and Douglas Dop of Monroe, Iowa; (Arvin) and Lenis (Earp) De Cook of Sully, Iowa; Mark and Karla (Vander Werff) De Cook of Sully, Iowa; and the grandfather of 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. Of his original family Armand leaves his sister, Anna Mae (James) Nikkel of Sully, Iowa. Armand was preceded in death by his son, Arvin F. De Cook, on June 7, 2009, at the age of 51 years; his parents, Arie F. and Jennie De Cook; his parents-in-law, John and Cato C. (Wanders) Brand ; his sister, Gertrude and her husband, Pete Goodyk and his brother, Walton De Cook and his wife, Nellie Fay; his brother-in-law, James Nikkel and a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Clarence and Vera (VanderWilt) Brand.

Armand was active with The Gideons International.

He was baptized and a member of the First Reformed Church in Sully, Iowa his entire life where he had served as a Deacon. Armand will be remembered as a good and faithful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.

Funeral services will be held
Monday, January 19, 2015 at 10:30 a.m.
First Reformed Church, Sully, Iowa
Interment will follow in the Sully Cemetery at Sully, Iowa with military honors.

Visitation will begin Sunday afternoon at the First Reformed Church in Sully where the family will be present Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Memorials may be given for The Gideons International. ~ The Van Dyke - Duven Funeral Home, Pella, Iowa 15 Jan 2015.