DeVries, George Jr. 1926-2017

DEVRIES, SIJBESMA, WIELENGA

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:37

Mr. George De Vries Jr., age 91, of Orange City, passed away on Tuesday, December 19, 2017, at the Prairie Ridge Care Center in Orange City.

There will be a memorial service on Friday, December 22, at 10:30am, at the Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. Robert Drenten will officiate. There will be a family graveside service on Friday, at 9:45am, at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City.

Visitation will be after 5:00pm on Thursday, with the family present from 5:00pm to 6:00pm, at the Prairie Ridge Care Center. Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

George was born on July 20, 1926, to George Eeltje and Jennie (Sijbesma) De Vries, the youngest of eight children. He attended country schools and finished the eighth grade at the Orange City Christian School. He then became a student at the Northwestern Classical Academy in Orange City, but his education was interrupted when he was inducted into the United States Army in 1944. He joined his brothers in serving in the European and Pacific theaters during World War II.

During his service in the army, he was stationed in the Intelligence Division, where he received a Purple Heart and an award of the Silver Star for gallantry in action at Luzon, Philippine Islands. He also served in the Division Finance Office before his discharge in 1946. His detailed war memoir is kept at the Orange City Public Library.

George then attended Morningside College in Sioux City and Northwestern Junior College in Orange City, completing four years of college in two and one-half years, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree. On July 20, 1946, he married Kathleen Wielenga.

He continued his education at the University of Iowa, acquiring a Masters of Arts degree in History. During his time as an educator, he attended the University of Iowa, the University of Wyoming, in Laramie, Wyoming, and Princeton College in Princeton, New Jersey. He eventually made his home at Northwestern College in Orange City, where he taught and served students and the college’s mission from 1957 to 1988, as a member of the History Department and serving on many academic committees. In that time, the college became a four-year accredited college.

Mr. De Vries’ writing reflected his love and knowledge of American history and his constant reflection on what it meant to be a citizen of Christian faith. He was published in periodicals such as “The Banner”, the “Christian Scholars Review”, the “Church Herald”, and was a contributing editor to “The Reformed Journal” for many years. He also authored a chapter in “Harry S. Truman: The Man from Independence”, and wrote many other articles, editorials and book reviews reflecting his thoughts on history, economics, politics, and faith.

In his retirement, he continued to enjoy reading and discussing issues in his contributions to local and other publications. He and Kathleen participated in various volunteer work, including Meals on Wheels, Habitat for Humanity, the Orange City Area Health System, Atlas, and for many years George served as an instructor for Crossroads Bible Institute in its prison ministry.

Survivors include his wife of more than 71 years; four children and their spouses, nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, George and Pat De Vries, their children, Jessica and Brad Hobert and Jennie and Casey Weerheim, great-grandchildren, Piper and Harrison; Nick and Cindy De Vries, their children, Samuel, Nicholas, and Jacob; Maria De Vries and Craig Carpenter, their son, Joel; Nathan and Amy De Vries, their children, Luke, Hannah, and Lily; and a sister-in-law, Joyce De Vries.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Joel De Vries, in July of 1983; his seven siblings and their spouses, Lucy and Ben Fedders, Elmer and Deana De Vries, Steven and Eva and Marge De Vries, Etta and Henry Harmelink, Marion and Ruby De Vries, Cornelius De Vries, and Frank and Ruth De Vries.

George’s life, profession and Christian faith were inseparable and as rich and deeply rooted as the soil in northwest Iowa, where he was born and raised. He held his reformed Calvinist roots very dear and they guided his lifelong quest to faithfully serve his family, students, community, church and country in a way that was consistent with his faith.

He wrote “…Christianity is not something to entertain us or make us feel good, it is not about adopting the latest fad in worship or like; it is a sober calling to a life of faith and trust and responsibility and witness. To be Christian is a life-long process, not always an uphill process nor a panacea for all ills; but a slogging journey towards a triumphant end.”

Memorials may be directed to the George and Kathleen De Vries History Scholarship at Northwestern College.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.