DeVries, Harold 1933-2014

DEVRIES, HOOGLAND, KROESE

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 1/6/2014 at 14:38:34

Harold De Vries

March 29, 1933 - January 3, 2014

Mr. Harold De Vries, age 80, of Hull, passed away on Friday, January 3, 2014, at the St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

There will be a funeral service on Wednesday, January 8, at 10:00am, at the First Christian Reformed Church in Hull. The Rev. Loren Kotman will officiate. Interment will follow at the Hope Cemetery in Hull. Visitation will be after 4:00pm on Tuesday, with the family present from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the church.

Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Hull.

Harold was born on March 29, 1933, at Boyden, the son of Gerrit and Alice (Hoogland) De Vries. He was raised mostly north of Maurice and graduated from the Sioux Center High School. He then served in the United States Army. After the military, he attended the Sioux Empire College in Hawarden for two years.

On April 11, 1955, he married Joyce Kroese in Hull. They made their home at Camp Gorden, Georgia, and Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he was a military policeman. After his discharge, they lived in Sioux City for a short time, before making their home in Hull where they lived the remainder of his life.

He was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church, where he served on the consistory as both an elder and a deacon. In earlier years, he was also a Cadet counselor and a head usher. In addition, he belonged to the Wegman-Koele American Legion Post in Hull.

Harold co-owned and operated A-1 Service at Perkin, which provided sales and services for mobile homes.

After his retirement, Harold actively volunteered for Hope Haven International in Rock Valley for many years, and was also a part-time driver for K & O Manufacturing in Hull.

Together, Harold and his wife, Joyce, enjoyed attending their grandchildren’s concerts and sporting events, traveling, camping, fishing, listening to gospel music, and attending concerts. Harold also spent his time tending to his bird feeders and enjoyed using his skills as an all-around handy man.

Harold loved the Lord and instructed his family to keep Christ at the center of their lives no matter what life brings. He was a loving husband to Joyce and a devoted father to his children.

Survivors include his wife of more than 58 years, Joyce; five children and their spouses, Jerry and Lora De Vries, of Sioux Center; Val and Arch Brummel, Judy and Doug Bonestroo, and Alethea “Lee” and Doug De Groot, all of Hull; and Steve and Lorna De Vries, of Rock Valley; thirteen grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Alida Remes, of Colorado; and Emma De Joode, of Minnesota; two brothers and their wives, Fred and Evelyn De Vries, of Sioux Center; and LeRoy and Betty De Vries, of Colorado; and a sister-in-law, Sadie De Vries, of Minnesota. Also surviving, are sisters-in-law, Clara Hoogland; Wilmina, and her husband, Melvin Schuiteman, all of Sioux Center; and Julianne Kats of Hull.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Jeanette, and her husband, Burdette Buffington; a brother, George De Vries; and sisters/brothers-in-law, Milton Remes, Tony De Joode, Hilda and Joe Mouw, Alfred Hoogland, and John Kats.

Memorials will be directed to Hope Haven International.