De Jong, Pierce 1929-2006

DE JONG, SCHUERR, MC PHERSON

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 7/26/2009 at 18:37:33

Monday, October 30, 2006

Pierce "Pitts" DeJong, 77, of Remsen, died Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, Minn.

Pierce Duane DeJong was born June 5, 1929, at rural Maurice, the son of Dick and Gertrude Schuerr DeJong. Pierce was known to many as "Pitts." He was baptized at the First Reformed Church in Maurice and attended school in Maurice, graduating from high school in 1947. Following high school, Pitts drove truck for Phil Groetken Trucking in Le Mars.

Pitts served his country in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War from October 1951 to October 1953 and continued with the Marine Corps Reserves until October 1959.

Pitts was united in marriage to Alma McPherson on June 12, 1953 in Hawarden. Following his discharge from active duty, the couple lived in Hawarden, Le Mars, and Maurice in 1974 moved to Remsen. Pitts managed the Struble Elevator for 12 years and later worked at the Remsen Roller Mill from 1974 until his retirement in 1994. After his retirement from the mill in Remsen, Pitts drove truck for Plymouth County Landfill a few years.

Pitts and Alma were members of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Le Mars and he was honored as a 60-year member of the Heeren-McHale-Wilken American Legion Post #724. He enjoyed camping, fishing, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Alma of Remsen; four children, Cindy Athens and her husband, Brad of Le Mars, Perry DeJong and his wife, Kathy of Le Mars, Dona McMasters and her husband, Bryan of Ames, and Amy Lechtenberg and her husband, Joe of Sioux City; nine grandchildren: Abby Penning, Ben Penning, Andru Athens, Corey DeJong and his fiancée Suzanne Weber, Angie and her husband Zach Davis, Dylan McMasters, Conner McMasters, Haley Lechtenberg, and Jordyn Lechtenberg; three brothers, John and Leola DeJong of Maurice, Milo and Neva DeJong of Washington, Nelson and Leni DeJong of Phoenix, Ariz.; two sisters, Greta and John DeZeeuw of Sioux Center and Nelvina and Gerald Wissink of Sioux Center; several in-laws, and nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dick and Gertrude DeJong.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 2, at the Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Le Mars, with the Rev. Drew Tomberlin officiating. Interment with military honors provided by the Heeren-McHale-Wilken American Legion Post #724 of Brunsville will be in Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitations will be after 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars with the family present to greet friends after 5 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7 p.m.

Pallbearers will be William Harvey, Rick McPherson, Jerry McPherson, Paul DeZeeuw, Vince Wissink, and Dave Bortscheller.