Tucker, John Boyd

TUCKER, VAN VEEN, DE JOODE

Posted By: volunteer (email)
Date: 7/21/2005 at 17:38:56

Funeral services for Mr. J.B. Tucker, 80, of Pella were held August 14, 2002 at the Chapel of Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella, the Rev. John McNabb officiating. Music was provided by Mrs. Eileen Smiley.

Masonic services were held August 13, 2002 at the Chapel of Van Dyk-Duven Funeral Home in Pella, with Mr. Gorden Enyart presiding. Committal service was at Graceland Cemetery in Pella with Military honors by the Van Veen-Van Hemert American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella, Iowa. Casket bearers were Jerry Blom, Kenneth De Wild, Stanton Eysink, L. Ed Liggett, Melvin Manning, Robert Schroder, Henry Schutte, Tom Steward and Tim Ver Meer.

John Boyd Tucker was born on October 14, 1921 in Knoxville. He was the first of three sons that were born to Conroy and Nellie Van Veen Tucker. J.B., as he was known, graduated from Knoxville High School in Knoxville in 1939.

In October of 1940 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force. He spent three years as a bombadier in the South Pacific (mainly New Guinea) during World War II. He was honorably discharged on July 20, 1945 having served four years and ten months as a Staff Sergeant. Following his discharge he worked in construction in Brecksville, Ohio until the fall of that year. J.B. then enrolled at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming where his parents were living at the time. He attended there for one year and then moved to Pella. J.B. attended Central College in Pella while working at the West End Café, which was being operated by Hattie De Joode.

J.B. and Hattie were united in marriage on October 3, 1948 at Lancaster, Missouri and to this union two children were born: Karen Marie and Alan Roy. J.B. and Hattie continued to lease the West End Cafe following their marriage until March of 1951. Hattie went to work in the hot lunch program for the Pella Community Schools at this time and J.B. started working for the Pella Rural Electric Cooperative as a linesman. During his employment at the R.E.C., J.B. attended trade school studying accounting. He eventually worked his way to office manager at the R.E.C., a position he held from 1965 through 1977. On April 1, 1983 he retired and Hattie had previously retired as a bookkeeper for Cook and Son Insurance Agency in Pella.

On February 19, 1985 Hattie passed away at the age of 69 years. Following her death, J.B. continued to reside in Pella the remainder of his lifetime.

J.B. was a member of the First Baptist Church in Pella where at one time he had served as the Sunday School Superintendent for ten years. He had coached little league baseball and for fifteen years was a licensed umpire for softball and slow pitch. He and his late wife, Hattie, along with Ken De Wild started the Pella Gun Club in the 1960's, which they operated until selling it to the Red Rock Isaac Walton League in 1985. J.B. will always be remembered as one who enjoyed building guns. He was a member of the Pella Masonic Lodge No. 55, A.F. & A.M and the Van Veen-Van Hemert American Legion Post No. of Pella. He enjoyed playing cribbage and cards. On Saturday evening, August 10, 2002 J.B. passed away at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella at the age of 80 years, 9 months and 26 days. When the journey on earth is completed, we find peace in the belief that a new and better journey begins.

He is survived by his daughter, Karen M. and her husband, John M. De Haan; his son, Alan R. Tucker and his wife, Karen all of Pella; two grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; a brother, Sephus Tucker and his wife, Alice of Parma Heights, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Hattie; his parents: Conroy and Nellie Tucker; and his younger brother, Robert Tucker.

Arrangements were handled by Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home in Pella.

Memorials may be made to the Hospice of Pella or the First Baptist Church.

The Pella Chronicle, August 16, 2002