DeJongh, Chester - 1932-2005

DEJONGH, DEGROOT, ENKHORN

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/13/2012 at 10:03:22

Northwest Iowa Review, After July 12, 2005

Rock Rapids - Chester Edwin DeJongh, 73, of Rock Rapids, died Tuesday evening, July 12, at his home after a brief illness.

Services will be 10:30 A.M., today (Saturday, July 16) at Rock Rapids Christian Reformed Church, with Rev. Cliff Hoekstra officiating. Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids, under the direction of Roste Funeral Home of Rock Rapids.

Chester DeJongh, son of Charlie & Ada (Enkhorn) DeJongh, was born Feb. 24, 1932 in Boyden. He lived his youth in Boyden, Beaver Creek, MN and Luverne, MN. He attended country school in Boyden and helped his parents with the family farm. As a young man he worked for Carter Implement and drove grain truck for his older brother, Wesley DeJongh.

He married Elizabeth "Betty" DeGroot on April 16, 1953. They made their home in Rock Rapids, and he began working at Modern Home & Gas Store as a salesman. He purchased the business in 1972 and continued to work there until his illness. He and his son, Carl, started Modern Communications Cable Company in the 1980s, later selling his part of the business to Carl & his family.

He was a member of Rock Rapids Christian Reformed Church for 52 years. He served on the board of the Iowa Propane Gas Association and had served as the district director of the North West Iowa Propane Gas Association. He also was a member of the National Propane Gas Association. He served on several other boards, such as Northwest Iowa Technical College in Sheldon, Hull Christian School and Merrill Pioneer Community Hospital in Rock Rapids. He was a longtime member of Kiwanis in Rock Rapids.

In his spare time he enjoyed flying his airplane, camping and fishing trips. He also enjoyed time spent in Arizona, where he and his wife wintered the past three years. His family remembers how he enjoyed being and working with people.

Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth "Betty" DeJongh; three children, Diane and Ron Rath of Rock Rapids; Susan Vanden Hoek of Rock Rapids, and Carl and Nancy DeJongh of Rock Rapids; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Christina Van Ipren of Luverne, MN; four brothers, Pete and Gert De Jongh of Edgerton, MN; Wesley & Katherine DeJongh of Springfield, OR; Harvey & Etta DeJongh of Hills, MN, and Norman & Norma DeJongh of Luverne, MN.

He was preceded in death by an infant brother.