De Jager, Robert 1916-1995

DE JAGER, VAN KETEL, VAN DER VEEN, ADAMS, AMBROSIUS, NELSON, BALMER, BERGSTRA

Posted By: Al Hibbard (email)
Date: 10/15/2013 at 19:47:17

Robert De Jager

Services for Robert De Jager, 79, of Pella, who died Nov. 25, 1995 at his home, were held November 28 at the First Christian Reformed he Church. Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Interment was in Oakwood Cemetery.

The Rev. Mark Beach officiated at the services and Ida Nelson was eulogist. Music was provided by Leona Ver Meer, organist, and Ivan Mulder, soloist.

Pallbearers were Tim Franje, Jerry and Russell Fynaardt, Ernie Roose, Lee Talma, Michael Vander Hart, and Douglas Vande Voort.

Mr. De Jager was born on Feb. 4, 1916 in Oppenhuizen (Fr), the Netherlands, the son of Hans and Ytje Van Ketel De Jager. At the age of 12, his aunt took him in and gave him an education. In 1934, he received his teachers degree.

On Feb. 1, 1940, he married Teresa Van der Veen.

He spent 14 years teaching in the Netherlands and 29 years in the United States. After emigrating to Buffalo, N.Y. in 1951, he taught in Highland, Mich. and East Palmyra,
N.Y. In 1963, they moved to Peoria where he taught for 18 years. He retired from full time teaching in 1981 and moved into Pella where he then substitute taught. In 1990, he became pastoral assistant of visitation for the First Christian Reformed Church, the position he held at the time of his death.

He was a lifetime member of the Christian Reformed Church and was active with the Gideon's.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two stillborn infants; and three brothers, Piet, Johan and Klaas.

He is survived by his wife; three daughters, Margaret Adams and her husband John Ambrosius of Platteville, Wis.; Mrs. Lynn (Ida) Nelson of Montague, Mich., and and Mrs. Jerry (Beatrix) Balmer of Loveland, Ohio; one son and his and wife, John and Helen of Grant, Mich.; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Tetje and Sjoeke De Jager and Afke Bergstra, all of the Netherlands.

Memorials have been established for Peoria Christian Grade School, the Gideon's Living Memorial Plan, and the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee.