Martin Dekkenga

     Martin Dekkenga age 90 of Sioux Center, IA died Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at Friendly Horizons in Sioux Center, Iowa.

     A graveside committal service will be held Saturday, September 17^th at 12pm at the Roseland Cemetery of Sanborn, IA.
     A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2pm at the First Christian Reformed Church of Sioux Center with Rev. Kurt Monroe officiating.
     Visitation will be held Friday from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, with family present at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center.

     Memorials may be directed to Friendly Horizons of Sioux Center.

     Martin Dekkenga was born on August 31, 1932, to John and Allie (Langstraat) Dekkenga near Matlock, Iowa. He had five brothers and three sisters. Martin attended high school in Sheldon, Iowa, attended Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa and graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He furthered his education and earned master’s degrees from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, South Dakota and the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

Martin married Leona Zevenbergen on December 30, 1953, in Ocheyedan, Iowa. The couple lived in Michigan where he finished college and had his first teaching position. He went on to become the principal of Sanborn Christian School in Sanborn, Iowa; Excelsior Christian School near Austinville, Iowa; and Dakota Christian High School in New Holland, South Dakota. He completed his career as a Communications Professor at Dordt College for 28 years. 

Martin and Leona were members of First Christian Reformed Church in Sioux Center since moving there in 1969. He was active in the church including Gleaners’ Forum Bible study, an elder and other areas of service. They both loved coffee time and playing games with friends and Martin continued that for years with some of his most dear friends.

Martin is survived by his two sons and daughters-in-law: Gordon and Shirley Dekkenga of Sioux Falls, SD and Stuart and Karla Dekkenga of LeMars, IA. Gordon and Shirley’s children: Nathan Dekkenga of Brooklyn Park, MN; Jessica and Mekonnen Afa of Tea, SD; Jacob and Catherine Dekkenga of Sioux Falls, SD; Heather and Jeremy Budihas of Tabor, SD and Seth and Rebekah Dekkenga of Oroville, CA. Stuart and Karla’s children: Katie and Tim Berry of Wichita, KS; Kolby and Meagan Dekkenga of Ft. Collins, CO; and Kinzie Dekkenga of Denver CO; sixteen great-grandchildren, brother and sister-in-law, John and Shirley Dekkenga and sister-in-law, Freda Dekkenga.

He was preceded in death by his wife Leona; an infant daughter, Carolyn Beth; his parents, John and Allie Dekkenga; three brothers and their wives: Case and Evelyn Dekkenga, Herman and Thelma Dekkenga, Willis and Sebena Dekkenga; brother, Louis Dekkenga, three sisters and their husbands: Anna and Marv Bomgaars, Lucy and Andy Bosma, and Angie and George Baker.

Martin loved camping, fishing, woodworking, cutting firewood, any outdoor work, Christmas BINGO and KDEK with his family, games, being a Hospice Volunteer and many other community services. Young children would always bring a smile to his face, even in his final days.

Martin was greeted in Heaven by MANY dear family and friends!