De Jong, Arnold G. 1924-2017

DEJONG, VANMAANEN, PUNT

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:33

Arnold G. De Jong
September 17, 1924 - October 24, 2017

      Arnold G. De Jong, age 93 of Hull, IA passed away Tuesday, October 24th, 2017 at Sioux Center Health in Sioux Center IA.
      Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Friday, October 27th at the First Reformed Church in Hull, IA with Rev. Kevin Yurk officiating.  Burial will follow at Hope Cemetery in Hull, IA.
      Visitation will be Thursday, October 26th from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM with family present from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

     Family wish memorials to be directed to First Reformed Church Radio and TV Ministry Fund.
     Arnold De Jong was born September 17th, 1924 in Perkins, IA the child of Gerben and Hattie (Van Maanen) De Jong.  He also received his education  in Perkins.  As a young man, in his 20's he worked with his dad on the farm.  Later they moved into Hull.  While in Hull he met his 1st wife Adelaide Hendrene (Punt) whom he married on April 2, 1954 at the Carmel Reformed Church.  They enjoyed 39 years of marriage. Originally they lived in Hull, but soon moved onto a mink farm just outside of Perkins.  Arnold and Adelaide soon moved into Perkins where his friends jokingly referred to him as the Mayor of Perkins.  In 1974 Arnold and Adelaide moved to Hull.  Through his life Arnold had several jobs.  He moved houses, worked construction and worked on many farms.  His real love was working as a mason tender with the same brick layers Fred and Jerry at Fisher Construction for over 30 years.  He always spoke highly of the job and the crew.  Even on the weekends he worked with bricks.  All three of his boys remember spending many weekends with Arnold tearing down chimneys and basements then being allowed to drive the overloaded car of bricks home.  As Arnold moved into retirement he didn't sit still.  He would walk over 20 miles a week picking up cans. Many people referred to him as the "can man".  There are countless stories of people that shared a joke or two with him on the side road while he was picking up cans. After Adelaide’s passing, Arnold was an active widower, he loved visiting friends and playing Wahoo with Leroy Rikkers.  He soon met his second wife Albertha, with whom he spent 20 more wonderful years.  Arnold and Albertha had a great marriage.  They have tales of many exciting adventures while Arnold was still driving.  They loved taking trips to the lake and river to go fishing.  They spent as much time as possible seeing friends, drinking coffee and playing cards.  Arnold was known for his sense of humor, his positive outlook, and the fact that he always put in a hard days work.  Arnold will be missed by all that knew him.  He was a member of the First Reformed Church of Hull.
     Arnold De Jong is survived by Albertha De Jong of Hull, IA; son, Arlin and Monica De Jong of Fort Wayne, IN and their three children, Andrew (Lauren), Matthew (Sydnee) and Anna, and grandson, Lucas; son, Mark and Deana De Jong of Oskaloosa, IA and their four children, Alexander, Abigail, Nicholas and Elizabeth; son, Larrell and Jodi De Jong of New Prague, MN and their two children, Joseph and Sophia.
     He was preceded in death by Parents, Gerben and Hattie De Jong; 1st Wife, Adelaide Hendrene (Punt) who passed away August 28, 1993; sister, Mina Hulstein; brothers, Thomas De Jong and Albertus De Jong.

Source: Memorial Funeral Home online obituary.