DeBruin, Willard 1908-1961

DEBRUIN, VANRENES

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg (email)
Date: 7/16/2016 at 21:09:35

Sioux Center News June 1, 1961

Funeral is 1:30 P.M. Today (Thursday)
Funeral services will be held at the Central Reformed church here at 1:30 p.m., Thursday, June 1, for Willard DeBruin, 53, retail shoe merchant here since 1938, who died at the Sioux Center Community hospital about 2 a m Tuesday, May 30, of a heart ailment.

He had been hospitalized since Sunday afternoon, due to a heart condition. He was first aware of not feeling well Sunday morning while teaching Sunday school class at Central Church. He dismissed the class early but later went to church. He walked out before the service was completed and went home.

A short time later a doctor was called to the home and Mr. De Bruin went to the hospital. His
condition had not been considered critical until a short time before his passing.

Funeral rites will be conducted by the Rev. Marion Klaaren and burial will be made in the Sioux Center Community cemetery under the direction of Vander Ploeg's Funeral home. A brief service which will be attended by members of the family will be held in the church chapel
at 1 p.m.. preceding the service in the nave.

Mr. DeBruin vas born at Hospers, lowa, May 14, 1908, and resided in Hospers vicinity most of
his life until coming to Sioux Center in 1938 to enter the retail shoe business. He was married to Margaret Van Renes at Hospers oh October 8, 1936, and to this union four children, two sons and two daughters, were born.

Survivors include his wife, Margaret; sons, Willard Henry and Harold James, at home; daughters Eleanor of Iowa City, and Margaret Jane at home; two brothers Edward of St. Louis and Ellis of Hospers; two sisters, Marie (Mrs Lee Lautenbach) of Des Moines and Eunice (Mrs. Melvin Steeg) of Sheldon.

Mr. DeBruin was active in community affairs throughout his residence in Sioux Center. He served on the local board of education for several years, was a former member of the consistory of Central church, was an active Sunday school teacher and for several years, including this year, served as chairman of the Sioux County Easter Seal sales campaign. He
had long been one of Northwest Iowa's most ardent workers on behalf of crippled children
Active pall bearers will be Bernard Ver Hoef, Arthur Vande Berg, Davis Roelofs, Gerald Bosch, Dan Voorderman and Gradus Verrips. Honorary pall bearers are Asa Mialenburg, John Poppen, E. O. Kinsey, Chas. Vander Ploeg, P B Mouw and Al Dykstra.