DeVries, Lester 1925-2006

DEVRIES, VISBEEK, HEDDEN

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 7/2/2014 at 17:20:32

Source: Sioux Center News(11-15-2006)

Born: March 1, 1925
Died: November 8, 2006

Lester Roy De Vries, 81, Hawarden, died Wednesday, November 8, at Hillcrest Health Care Center in Hawarden.

Services will be 10 A.M. today (Saturday, November 11) at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Hawarden, with Father Seuntjens officiating. Burial will be at Grace Hill Cemetery in Hawarden, under the direction of Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden.

Lester De Vries, son of John and Jennie (Visbeek) De Vries, was born March 1, 1925, near Rock Valley. He married Lois Hedden on July 4, 1942. He worked on the railroad for a short time before moving to California, where he was employed at a dairy. After five years, they returned to Iowa, where he was a delivery milkman for Hawarden. They moved to a farm near Akron, where he farmed for 20-plus years. They retired to Hawarden in 1978, after which he continued to do odd jobs.

He loved to travel, loved camping, fishing, selling produce, playing cards and visiting with family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Lois De Vries of Hawarden; eight children, Sandy and Wilbur Gradert of Hawarden, Norma and Bill Rabey of Akron, Judy Danielson of Hawarden, John and Willy De Vries of Hawarden, Lannie De Vries and special friend, Twilla Frye of Hawarden, Evelyn and Mick Schoppman of Hawarden, Madonna and Chris Grubb of Hawarden, and Susan Kruid and special friend, George Taylor of Le Mars; 33 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a brother, Bud De Vries of Fresno, California.

He was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Sharon Danielson; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; four brothers, Harry De Vries, Hank De Vries, John De Vries and Pete De Vries; and two sisters, Lizzie Anderson and Fannie McKee.