Norm De Graaff

Norm De Graaff, 72, of Hull, Iowa died Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at the Royal C. John Veterans Hospital in Sioux Falls. A visitation with family present will be held on Thursday from 6-8PM at the American Reformed Church of Hull. A memorial service will be held on Friday at 2PM at the American Reformed Church of Hull with Rev. Steven Bierly officiating. Interment will follow the service in Hope Cemetery of Hull. Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. Norman Wayne De Graaff was born to Francis and Maggie (Van Batavia) De Graaff on July 29, 1939 in Hull, Iowa. He attended Hull Public School. Norm served his country in the US Army. He was a part of the Hell on Wheels division and participated in the Big Lift in Germany. In 1964, his status was transferred to the US Army Reserve he was honorably discharged in 1967. He married Beverly (Vander Haag) Vande Burgt on August 28, 1965 in the Wayside chapel near Sioux Center. Norm lived in Hull his entire lifetime. As a young man, he worked as an auto mechanic for Rich Ten Braak. Later he worked for John Kooiker and for Hymans Construction and became part owner of Hymans Pit. In his later years, Norm worked as the bus mechanic at Western Christian High School in Hull and for Jim De Kam doing excavating and salvage. Norm loved to garden and was always happy to share his bountiful produce with others. He taught gun safety to his son and grandsons and hunting and fishing were always a joy. He enjoyed working with stained glass and sharing his pieces with others. Norm had a tender heart and a mischievous sense of humor. His warm heart was reflected through his easy smile and the twinkle in his eye. Norm especially enjoyed babies and young children. He often would be seen carrying around his nieces, nephews and grandsons. He was Santa for the town of Hull for 25 years and went to visit at the homes of many children... checking to see if they were naughty or nice and would give them a candy bar. He was a member of the American Reformed Church and the American Legion in Hull. Norm battled cancer with faith, grace and courage for three and a half years. In his quiet way of life, he showed his love for His God and others. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Bev, who was a courageous, devoted and loving care giver; two children: Faron and Wendy De Graaff of Wellington, CO and Kara and Jay Foote of Hull; two precious grandsons, Kody and Jacob Foote of Hull; two sisters: Theadora and Bert Kracht of Beaver Creek, MN, and Carole Kleyer of Sioux Center; a brother-in-law, John C. and Ruth Vander Haag of Sanborn, and a sister-in-law, Colleen and Bob Truckey of Anaheim, CA as well as numerous nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Preceding him in death were his parents, Francis and Maggie De Graaff; his grandparents, Frank and Anne De Graaff and Bert and Dora Van Batavia; his parents-in-law, John and Kate Vander Haag and a brother in-law, Paul Kleyer.