John J. De Boer

John J. De Boer age 87, of Rock Valley, Iowa formerly of Sioux Center died Sunday, September 25, 2005 the Valley Manor Nursing Home in Rock Valley.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, September 28, 2005 at the Carmel Reformed Church of Carmel, IA at 10:30 am with Reverend Mark Heijerman officiating. Interment will follow at the Carmel Cemetery.

A Visitation will be held at Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center, Tuesday, September 27, 2005 from 2pm to 8pm with the family present from 6:00 - 8:00 pm.


Memorials can be directed to the Carmel Church New Building Fund.


John J. De Boer was born June 2, 1918 to Jake and Minnie (Oostenink) De Boer in Hull, IA. Growing up in the Carmel area he attended country school through the 6th grade.

John was joined in marriage to Dorothy Westra on April 13, 1938 in Perkins, IA. Just short of his 26th birthday John was drafted into the US Army to serve in World War II spending his two years in the European campaign. After returning from Europe he continued working as a tractor mechanic until 1998.

John and Dorothy were members of the Carmel Reformed Church of Carmel. John loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren. He could often be found restoring John Deere tractors or feeding his many birds.

John is survived by his children: Hermina and Ken Louwerse of Orange City, Ken and Gloria De Boer of Macon, MO, Deloris Lori and Sherwin Van Kekerix of Rock Valley, Marge and Gene Van Kekerix of Sioux Falls, SD, Ivan and Arlis De Boer of Sioux Center, Donna Miller and her friend George Walters of Sioux Falls, SD; 15 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; two sisters, Dena Blankespoor of Hull, Geneva Huisman of Sioux Center; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Jeanette and John Wesselink of Rock Valley, Coba and Martin Raak of Orange City; and one brother-in-law, Albert Moss of Luverne, MN.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 61 years; his parents; three brothers and sisters-in-law: Jerry and Sadie, Frank and Alyda, and Dick and Anna De Boer; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Gertrude and Henry Vander Vliet, Hermina and Henry Bartles; one sister, Henrietta Moss; and one brother-in-law, Henry Blankespoor.