Paul Dean De Jager

Paul Dean De Jager, 84, of Maurice, IA died Monday, October 6, 2014, at his Maurice residence. A visitation will be held on Wednesday from 4-8PM, with the family present from 6-8PM at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. A funeral service will be held on Thursday 10AM at the Maurice First Reformed Church of Maurice, Iowa with Rev. Gary Hegstad and Rev. Don De Kok officiating. Interment will follow the service in Sherman Township Cemetery of Maurice. The De Jager family prefers memorials to Care Initiatives Hospice of Sioux City, Iowa. Paul Dean De Jager was born November 20, 1929 near Maurice, Iowa to Albert and Henrietta (Van Peursem) De Jager. Paul was raised in the Maurice area, attending country school through the eighth grade. As a young man he lived in Sioux City, Iowa where he worked at the Swift Packing Plant. On February 3, 1950, he was united in marriage to Sharla Ann Riphagen at her parent's home. Paul worked for area farmers. Later he and Sharla settled on his family's farm near Maurice where they raised their family of five children, and where he farmed until his retirement. Paul was a member of the Maurice First Reformed Church where he served as an elder and was involved with the church's construction project. In his younger years, Paul's spare time was filled with fishing and hunting. He later enjoyed camping and boating with his family. Throughout his entire life Paul's main interest was farming and he appreciated the lifestyle it provided. Paul is survived by his wife of 64 years, Sharla De Jager of Maurice; his five children and their spouses: Keith and Mary De Jager of Yankton, SD and their two children: Tanya (Rick) Roberts and Heath (Heidi) De Jager; Allen and Ruth De Jager of Ireton and their four children: Matthew (Joy) De Jager, Michael (Karissa) De Jager, Chad (Kim) De Jager, Anne (Ryan) Roetman; Harv and Nancy De Jager of Maurice and their four children: Jennifer (Greg) Leusink, Jessica (Dan) David, Ashley (Adam) Maassen, Kaitlyn (Dan) Vander Schaaf; Rick and Carolyn De Jager of Branson, MO and their six children: Steve (Lana) De Jager, Jon De Jager, Miranda Leusink, Lacey De Jager, Bo (Ashton) De Jager, Blake De Jager; Paula and Bob Rosener of Vail, IA and their three children: Collin (Alicia) Vande Hoef, Clint Vande Hoef, Lexie Vande Hoef; his 27 great grandchildren along with his nieces and nephews. Paul was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters and brothers-in-law: Esther and Ray Johnson and Leona and Pete Van Maasdam and grandson-in-law, B.J. Leusink.