deVries, Samuel George 1992-2020

DEVRIES, MORRIS

Posted By: Marjorie Brunsting-Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:36

Mr. Samuel deVries, age 28, of Orange City, passed away on Monday, November 30, 2020, at the Orange City Area Health System after struggling valiantly with a crippling autoimmune disorder for the past seven years.

There will be a funeral service on Saturday, December 5, at 10:30am, at the Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Orange City. The Rev. Robert Drenten will officiate. Interment will follow the service at the West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City. Arrangements are with the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.

You are invited to leave a message of condolence, print a memorial folder, and participate in the service via live stream at www.oolman.com.

Samuel George deVries was born to Nicholas and Cindy (Morris) deVries on March 25, 1992, in Des Moines, where the family lived until moving to Orange City when Sam was six. As a young boy, Sam had a love for dinosaurs and playing video games with his twin brothers. He attended the Orange City Christian School and Unity Christian High School where he participated in various athletic programs. During high school, Sam was able to take part in the Track and Field State Meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines and was selected as a Boy’s State Representative, among other achievements.

After his graduation from high school in 2010, Sam enrolled at Northwestern College in Orange City. Following his sophomore year, he achieved one of his goals of completing the Okoboji Triathlon, but almost immediately afterward his disease presented itself. Despite the interruptions caused by the unexpected onset of his baffling illness, he persevered and graduated in May of 2015 with his bachelor’s degree in accounting and economics. He then moved to Rapid City, South Dakota, where he discovered his love for the outdoors and hiking with his adopted Border Collie, Grace. After multiple relapses, Sam returned to Orange City to receive care and further treatment with his guardian angel, Grace, always by his side.

As his disease progressed, he allowed himself to be an ongoing research case to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Although the last few years had many trials and hardships, Sam was able to maintain some independence with the help of his family and friends, all of whom are proud of him for his determination in the face of impossible circumstances. Sam never lost his competitive spirit, and spent his final weekend beating his family in chess and Scrabble with a smile on his face.

Sam will be deeply missed by his parents, Nick and Cindy deVries, of Orange City; his two brothers, Nicholas deVries, and his wife, Sarah, of Spirit Lake, and Jacob deVries, of West Des Moines; his paternal grandmother, Kathleen deVries, of Orange City; his maternal grandparents, Richard and Linda Morris, of Indianola; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, George deVries, Jr., and an uncle, Joel deVries.

Memorials may be directed to Northwestern College in Orange City.

Source: Oolman Funeral Home online obituary.