De Zeeuw, John A. 1923-2016

DEZEEUW, BERGHUIS, DUISTERMARS

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting (email)
Date: 7/27/2016 at 12:01:25

Mr. John De Zeeuw, age 92, formerly of Hull, passed away on Saturday, July 23, 2016, at the Rose Estates Assisted Living Community in Overland Park, Kansas.
There will be a funeral service on Wednesday, July 27, at 10:30am, at the American Reformed Church in Hull. The Rev. Steven Bierly will officiate. Interment will follow the service at the Hope Cemetery in Hull. Visitation will be after 5:00pm on Tuesday, with the family present from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Hull.

John Andrew, Jr. was born on October 22, 1923, in Sioux Center, the son of Andrew and Alida (Berghuis) De Zeeuw. He was raised on a farm west of Sioux Center, where he attended a country school through the eighth grade. He then transferred to the Sioux Center High School, graduating with the class of 1941.

Shortly thereafter, he entered the United States Army, stationed mainly in the Philippines. He was in route to Japan when World War II ended.

On September 24, 1946, he married Ella Marie Duistermars at the Central Reformed Church in Sioux Center. They farmed in the Middleburg, Sandy Hollow, and Perkins areas for 25 years. He then was a greenkeeper at Sandy Hollow Golf Course near Sioux Center for three years and during the winters assisted Dr. Merrill Wallinga in his veterinary practice. For fifteen years, he worked in the maintenance and transportation departments of Hope Haven in Rock Valley. In later years, they made their home in Hull, where in semi-retirement, he made deliveries to schools in a van for Area Education Agency IV.

In December of 2013, Mr. and Mrs. De Zeeuw moved to Rose Estates.

He was a member of the American Reformed Church in Hull and the Doornink-Brunsting American Legion Post in Sioux Center.

John enjoyed gardening, spending time with “The Gang” (eight couples of friends), attending his sons’ sporting events at the Boyden-Hull High School and Northwestern College in Orange City, reading area newspapers, fishing, and golfing. He was an avid fan of the Chicago Bears and the University of Iowa football and basketball teams.

He especially liked practicing for Punt, Pass, and Kick contests with Jay and Steven and cutting firewood with Larry. He often shared his garden produce with others.

Survivors include his wife of more than 69 years; three sons and their wives, Larry and Becky De Zeeuw, of Ashville, Ohio; Jay and DeeDee De Zeeuw, of Lakeside, Texas; and Steven and Elizabeth De Zeeuw, of Overland Park; seven grandchildren, Erica Williams, of Orient, Ohio; Jordan De Zeeuw, of Council Bluffs; Patricia De Zeeuw-Guevara, of Clarksville, Tennessee; Rocio De Zeeuw-Moebus, of Chicago, Illinois; and Alex De Zeeuw, Cristina De Zeeuw, and Isabella De Zeeuw, all of Overland Park; six great-grandchildren; a sister, Ruth De Jong, of Spirit Lake; and a brother, Earl De Zeeuw, of Orion, Illinois.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two daughters-in-law, Mary De Zeeuw and Jane De Zeeuw; a granddaughter, Katie De Zeeuw; a brother, Roger De Zeeuw; and three sisters, Vera Taylor, Norma Vander Berg, and Esther Vermeer.

Memorials may be directed to Hope Haven.

Source: Oolman Funeral Hone online obituary.