Daniel Deruyter

Daniel DeRuyter was born March 23, 1930, to George and 'Dea' Jedidah (Ossewaarde) DeRuyter in Sioux Center, Iowa. Dan was raised and educated in Sioux Center, graduating from Sioux Center High School in 1948.


Dan achieved the title of Eagle Scout, earning numerous awards and honors. He was also a center for the Sioux Center Indians basketball team. Dan participated in the Iowa High School Basketball tournament his graduating year. He fondly remembered everyone saying “Boy, could he jump!”


Dan received a full 4 year scholarship to Drake University, graduating in 1952 with a degree in Business Administration. After Dan’s final game, he was honored with a ‘Dan DeRuyter Night’. Later he received the honor of ‘Decade Player for the 1950’s’. He was one of 32 Drake seniors selected to represent the university in Who’s Who in Students in American Universities and Colleges for 1951-52.


While attending Drake, Dan met Shirley Van Roekel. Although only living 16 miles apart growing up, Shirley and Dan did not know each other. They fell in love and were married August 24, 1951. After graduation Dan was commissioned in the US Navy and served 2 years during the Korean War. After serving his nation, Dan then joined his father at the DeRuyter Hardware store in Sioux Center. During the 39 years of owning and managing DeRuyter Hardware, he expanded the store into additional buildings and helped his wife introduce, own, and manage the “Young American Shoppe”.

Dan particularly enjoyed living in a small town in Iowa, working and watching Sioux Center grow and prosper. He was instrumental in developing and building Sioux Center’s first golf course, Sandy Hollow. Dan was very proud of designing holes one and nine. He was also active on the Sioux Center Land Committee, Sioux Center Community Hospital Executive Board, Board of Directors for Our Own Hardware and a Lifetime member of Central Reformed Church.


Dan loved to hunt and fish, playing all sports and vegetable gardening.


He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 65 years; Shirley DeRuyter, Their Children; Janet (Doug) Vander Berg of Sioux Center, Iowa, Kim (Joe) Stair of Parker, Colorado, Sue (Chip) Pike of Missouri City, Texas. His younger brother Mark (Ruth) DeRuyter of Georgetown, Texas and 2 grandchildren; Drew (Kelly) Schmidt of Orange City, Iowa and Maggie Schmidt of Sioux Center, Iowa,  and 2 great-grandchildren; Nolan and Stella Schmidt.


He was preceded in death by his parents George and Dea DeRuyter and 3 brothers; Dode, Artie Jim and David DeRuyter.

The DeRuyter family prefer memorials be directed to The Boy Scouts – Sioux Center Hospital – Crown Pointe and Royale Meadows.