Dekker, Christian 1907-2010

DEKKER, HOOGLAND, VANBEEK

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/23/2010 at 11:32:49

Christian Dekker
December 26, 1907 - June 17, 2010
Mr. Christian Dekker, age 102, of Orange City, passed away on Thursday, June 17, 2010, at the Orange City Area Health System Long Term Care Facility.

There will be a funeral service on Saturday, June 19, at 10:30am, at the First Reformed Church Chapel in Orange City. The Rev. Dr. Perry De Groot will officiate. Interment will follow at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City..

Christian was born on December 26, 1907, in rural Orange City, the son of John and Dorothy (Hoogland) Dekker. He was raised at Orange City and Rock Valley. As an adult, he made his home at Orange City.

On October 16, 1933, he married Grace Van Beek in Orange City. They farmed at Orange City and Alton. Grace passed away on July 16, 1951, at Alton. Chris then lived at Orange City and Maurice.

On January 31, 1963, he married Tena Van Beek Gerritsen in Canton, South Dakota. They made their home in Orange City, where in 1968, he became employed by Groen Plumbing, which later became D. and L. Plumbing. In 1991, they moved to the Pioneer Memorial Home in Orange City, and in 1997, they transferred to the Valley Manor in Rock Valley. Tena passed away on October 7, 2000, in Rock Valley.

Mr. Dekker then returned to the Pioneer Memorial Home. In 2003, he transferred to the Long Term Care Facility. He was a member of the First Reformed Church.

Survivors include his son-in-law, LeRoy Rikkers, of Hull; daughter-in-law, Lorelei Dekker, of Memphis, Tennessee; five grandchildren, Richard Rikkers, and his wife, Debra, of Sioux Center; Kevn Rikkers, and his wife Kathy, of Chicago, Illinois; Kent Dekker, and his wife, Cheryl, of Memphis; Kimberly Abu-Khraybeh, of Memphis; and Kris Dekker, and his wife, Ashley, of Birmingham, Alabama; a granddaughter-in-law, Susan Rikkers, of Rock Rapids; sixteen great-grandchildren; Rachel Rikkers; Elizabeth Rikkers; Luke Rikkers, Brock Rikkers; Christina Dekker; Brooke Dekker, and his wife, Ruth; Bianca, and her husband, Jedd Boussard; Allyson Dekker; John Dekker; Miriam, and her husband Ross Albert; Wally Abu-Khraybeh; Suzanne Abu-Khraybeh; Alli Abu-Khraybeh; Colin Dekker; Caleb Dekker; and Caedmon Dekker; three step-great-grandchildren, Ashley, Aimee, and Andrea; two great-great-grandchildren, Landon and Lannie Boussard; seven step-great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Ida De Haan, of Bellflower, California.

In addition to his wives, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Dorothy Rikkers; a son, John Marvin Dekker; a grandson, Darwin Rikkers; four brothers, Albert, Frank, Gerrit, and Henry Dekker; and two sisters, Grace Dekker and Alice Miedema.
Source: Oolman Funeral Home obit