Du Pree, Edward 1919-1995

DU PREE, MEULPOLDER, PETERSON

Posted By: Al Hibbard (email)
Date: 10/15/2013 at 19:35:28

Edward Du Pree

Services for Edward Du Pree, 76, of Pella, who died May 10, 1995 at Pella Community Hospital, were held May 14 at the Second Reformed Church. Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Inurnment was in Oakwood Cemetery.

The Rev. Norman Schouten officiated at the services.

Music was provided by Dr. Davis Folkerts, organist, and Timothy
Ten Clay, soloist.

Mr. Du Pree was born Jan. 2, 1919 and was raised in Pella. He graduated from Pella Community High School in 1937.

He began working at the Pella Chronicle in the photo-engraving department.

On Aug. 30, 1942, he married Mary Meulpolder.

Shortly after his marriage, he was drafted into the Army. He was trained as a combat engineer, and then shipped to North Africa. There he was transferred to the Army newspaper, Stars and Stripes, as a photographer, and was later assigned to an evacuation hospital where he remained until the end of the war going from Africa to Sicily, Italy, France and Germany. His unit was one of the first to enter Dachau Concentration Camp at the time of the liberation.

Upon his return to Pella, he co-founded Pella Engraving Company, retiring in 1980. He and his wife also owned and managed Mid-Town Homes from 1972 until 1985.

He was a member of the Second Reformed Church where he had sung in the choir, served on the consistory, and served as treasurer.

He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Gerrit, Tunis and Ben.

He is survived by his wife; three sons and their wives, Dan and Nancy of Boca Raton, Fla., David and Linda of San Jose, Calif., and Tom and Kim of Dallas, Texas; two grandsons; two stepgranddaughters; one sister, Carrie Peterson of Pella; and two brothers, John of Pella and Cornelius of Des Plaines, Ill.

Memorials have been established to Hospice of Pella and Carnegie Viersen Library.