DeJong, Gerald Dr. 1921-2001

DEJONG, DOUMA, MASSELINK

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/20/2010 at 04:50:03

Dr. GERALD DE JONG

Dr. Gerald DeJong, 79, of Orange City died Tuesda, Oct. 30, 2001, at his son’s home in Rock Rapids, Iowa.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Roste Funeral Home in Rock Rapids with the Rev.
Dave Sterk officiating. Burial with military rites will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday in West Lawn Ceme tery, Orange City. Visitation will be 2 to 8:30 p.m. today. with the family present 7 to 8:30 pm. at the funeral home.
Dr. Gerald Francis DeJong was born Nov. 16, 1921, in Carnes, IA., the son of Otto and Hattie (Douma) DeJong. He graduated from a one-room country school in 1935 and in 1939, graduated from Northwestern Academy in Orange City. In 1942, Gerald enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served as a navigtor’s assistant aboard the USS G.O. Squire for about three years, bringing and returning troops in both the Pacific and European Theaters of action.
Upon returning from the Navy, Gerald attended Northwestern Junior Colleg, graduating in 1948. He then spent a year at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. and graduated with high honors the following year from Morningside College in Sioux City. Gerald then attended the University of Wisconsin to do graduate work in European History.
On June 5, 1950, Gerald was united in marriage to Jeanette "Jeanne’ Masselink, of Edgerton. MN. In 1952, he was awarded a Fullbright Scholarship to the University of Utrecht the Netherland and graduated with a PhD from the University of Wisconsin in 1955, receiving the highest honors given in the History Department.
After graduation he taught European History at Indiana Central College Emporia Kansas State College, and North Dakota State College in Fargo, ND. For five years Dr. De Jong served as Academic Dean at Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. Upon resuming teaching, he taught at Midwestern College in Denison IA., and the University of South Dakota at Vermillion, S.D. In 1988, Dr. DeJong retired to Orange City, IA., and was a member of First Reformed Church.
At the time of Dr. DeJong’s death, he was survived by his wife of 51 years, Jeanne DeJong of Orange City; six children, Owen DeJong of Wakonda, S.D., Dr. Jerry DeJong and his wife, Dr. Renee, of Urbana, Ill., Drew DeJong and his wife, Janet, of Spring, Texas, Dr. Nanette DeJong of New Brunswick, N.J., Dr. Chet DeJong and his wife, Mel, of Rock Rapids, and Karl DeJong and his wife, Kristal, of Spring, Texas: seven grandchildren, Antoine, Colette, Audrey, Kristen, Max, Luke and Emily; two sisters, Ethel Aberson of Orange City and Betty Lou Alberts of Grand Forks, N.D.; and a brother, Thomas DeJong of Alton, Iowa.
Preceding Dr. DeJong in death were his parents and a sister, Esther Muilenhurg. A brother, Tom DeJong, died Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2001, the day after Gerald died.
Source: Local newspaper after 10-30-2001