Robert "Bob" De Jong was born on April 4, 1939, to Cornie and Elizabeth De Jong in Leighton, Iowa.  Bob passed away on September 20, 2022, in Red Wing, Minnesota.  Bob grew up in bucolic Leighton, Iowa, and graduated from Pella Christian High School.

Bob met Jean Malloy through friends, and they were married on March 23, 1963, in Oskaloosa.  To this union they were blessed with five children:  Rusty, Angie, Dave, Tammy, and Ben.  He cherished Jean and her death in 2016 left a hole that was never filled.

He farmed for many years and finished his working years as a truck driver.

Bob was a member of Ebenezer Reformed Church in Leighton for over 40 years.  In more recent years, he had attended church at First Reformed Church in Pella, prior to his move to Red Wing, Minnesota.

Some of Bob's favorite hobbies were jigsaw puzzles and Sudoku.  But his true hobby was four-point pitch, at which he was as good as anyone.

Those left to cherish his memory are his five children:  Rusty and Chris De Jong, Angie and Tom Walter, Dave and Amy De Jong, Tammy Rankin, and Ben and Kristal De Jong; fourteen grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren.  Bob is survived by his sister Glenda and Marion Klyn of Pella, Iowa, sisters-in-law Phyllis Allgood of Muskego, Wisconsin, and Marcia Michelson of Lauderhill, Florida, and brother-in-law Dale and Sally Malloy of Oskaloosa, Iowa.

Bob was preceded in death by his wife Jean, and parents Cornie and Elizabeth De Jong.

Bob's family:

Rusty and Chris De Jong of Green Castle, Missouri

Beth Phelps

Jessica De Jong

Josh De Jong

Corby De Jong

Ladan, Maci, Presley, & Aaliyah of Jessica

Norah and Bennett of Elizabeth

Remington of Josh

Noah of Corby

Angie and Tom Walter of Ellicott City, Maryland

Travis Walter

Rachel Walter

Alyssa Walter

Dave and Amy De Jong of Red Wing, Minnesota

Abe De Jong

Cecelia De Jong

Lou De Jong

Tammy Rankin of Knoxville, Iowa

Ella Rankin

Isaac Rankin

Ben and Kristal De Jong of Cedar Falls, Iowa

Kaleah De Jong

Adeline De Jong

Lake View Angel Tree