DeKam, Clarence - 1920-1995

DEKAM, BAKKER, DE WITTE

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden-Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/23/2011 at 14:33:13

Sioux Center News, January 12, 1995

Clarence De Kam, 84, of Rock Valley died Friday, January 7, at Valley Manor.

Funeral service was at 1:30 p.m., Monday at First Christian Reformed Church, Rock Valley, with the Rev. John Engbers officiating. Burial was in Valley View Cemetery.

De Kam was born February 17, 1920 at Serooskerke, The Netherlands, son of John & Pieternella (De Witte) De Kam. The family moved to the United States to the Chandler, MN, area in 1921 and later to Lebanon. He married Jennie Bakker on September 3, 1942. Together they farmed in the Boyden, Hull and Rock Valley areas until they retired to Rock Valley in October of 2001. He also did hay and scrap metal hauling and custom baling. He enjoyed working on cars, attending auctions and collecting antiques, traveling, hunting and fishing. He entered the Special Care Unit at George Good Samaritan Center in August 2002, and Valley Manor in September 2003.

He was a member of First Christian Reformed Church and served as an elder.

Survivors include his wife; children, Nelva (Pete) Pollema of Hull; Fran (Myron) Moss of Sioux Center; Jim (Marj) De Kam of Rock Valley; Judy (Marlin) De Noble of Hills, MN, and Helen (Brad) De Vries of Sioux Center; sisters, Frances Boer, Catherine Groeneweg and Martena Kragt, all of Rock Valley; sister-in-law, Carolyn De Kam of Rock Valley; brother-in-law, John Oostra of Michigan; 23 grandchildren; and 36 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a grandson; a great-granddaughter; brothers, John, Pete, Marvin and Sam De Kam; and sisters, Nellie Bakker, Johanna Bakker, Lena De Roon, Anna Van Beek and Elizabeth Oostra.