John R. De Weerd

John R. De Weerd, 83, of rural Rock Valley, IA died Wednesday, October 12, 2005 at the Hegg Memorial Health Center in Rock Valley, IA.

Funeral services will be held 2pm Saturday, October 15, 2005 at the Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center, IA with Rev. Stephen Rhoda officiating. Internment will follow at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Sioux Center.

Visitation will be held Friday, October 14, 2005 from 2-8pm with the family present from 6:30-8pm at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

John Ralph De Weerd was born February 18, 1922 to Bert and Hattie (Van Holland) De Weerd near Rock Valley, Iowa. During his formative years his family lived on various farms in Sioux County. After completing the eighth grade John left school to help with the family farm.

On his twenty-sixth birthday he married Anna Draayer in Sioux Center. The young couple made their home on a farm south of Rock Valley. This home has remained their residence for all of these years.

John was a longtime member of Bethel Christian Reformed Church and served as a deacon and elder. Christian education was important to John, having sat on the school board of both the Sioux Center Christian School and Western Christian High School.

Farming was always a vital part of Johns life and he still liked helping out when he could, particularly during the harvest season. He enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be dearly missed.

John is survived by his wife of 57 years, Ann; His children, Delores and Lawrence Van Grootheest of Rock Valley, Ron and Joy De Weerd of Rock Valley, Leanne De Weerd of Waterford, WI, Glen De Weerd of Rock Valley, Mark and Sherry De Weerd of Springfield, MO; grandchildren: Karen and Mike De Vries, Les and Heather Van Grootheest, Nancy and Kurt Vander Schaaf, Donna Van Grootheest, Bob Van Grootheest, Brian De Weerd, Jeff and Abby De Weerd, Lisa and Justin Gaiser, Dan De Weerd, Jon De Weerd, Rachel De Weerd and Megan De Weerd; Great grand-children; Abigail, Matthew, John and Amanda De Vries, Bryson and Merrik Van Grootheest and McKenna De Weerd; brother and sister-in-law, Gerald and Gladys De Weerd of Sioux Center; sisters-in-law, Anna De Weerd of Pella, IA, Nellie Altena of Sioux Center, and Helen De Weerd of Sioux Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers: Dick, Hilbert, and Gordon; and a granddaughter Sheri De Weerd.