De Ruiter, Nickolas Marinus 1916-2007

DE RUITER, FRANJE, VAN GORP

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/26/2008 at 19:27:29

Nickolas Marinus De Ruiter, son of Cornelius and Lucy (Franje) De Ruiter, was born November 17, 1916 south of Taintor, Iowa. He passed away resulting in a car accident Thursday, April 5, 2007 in Pella, Iowa at the age of ninety years.

Nick received his education in the Pella area schools and lived in the Pella area for most of his life.

On August 10, 1938 he was united in marriage with Leona Van Gorp at the First Christian Reformed Church Parsonage in Pella. To this union four children were born: Donna, Robert, Carol, and Dwayne.

Nick drove a truck until he enlisted in the service. He served his country in the United States Navy during World War II . After his discharge in 1945 he again drove a truck. The family then moved to a farm north of Pella and farmed for eight years after which he returned to truck driving. He served as Marion County Deputy Sheriff for two and one-half years. He retired from trucking for Western Transportation and then worked part-time at Ring O Matic.

Nick was a member of Pella American Legion and Pella V.F.W. He was a member of First Christian Reformed Church. Nick enjoyed gardening, fishing, watching the eagles on the Des Moines River below the Red Rock Dam, and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife of sixty-eight years, Leona; his four children and their families: Donna Gabrielse of Kearney, Missouri, Robert "Bob" and Lavonne De Ruiter of Pella, Iowa, Carol and Bill Rauhauser of Lake Dallas, Texas, and Dwayne and Norma De Ruiter of Pella, Iowa; his sister, Margaret Vermeer of Marietta, Georgia; eleven grandchildren and twenty-seven great-grandchildren. Nick will be missed by his family and many friends.

Burial took place at the Oakwood Cemetery in Pella. The Pella Garden Chapel Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

The Pella Chronicle, May 11, 2007