Ruth Jean De Jong was born on November 5, 1940, to Aca and Marcella (Wolfe) Malloy in Oskaloosa, Iowa. She passed away unexpectedly on December 1, 2016, in Pella, Iowa. Jean grew up in Oskaloosa, and graduated from Oskaloosa High School. She later attended Texas Tech and William Penn University.

Jean met Robert De Jong 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. She was a homemaker and later became a teacher associate for over 25 years in the Pella Community School District, including many years at Lincoln Elementary. At Lincoln, she found her calling of working with special needs children.

Jean was a member of Ebenezer Reformed Church in Leighton for over 40 years, including involvement with the Priscilla Circle. In recent years, she has attended church at First Reformed Church in Pella. Jean lived her faith every day, as her faith defined her. Whether at Ebenezer or First, she was always involved in the ministry of the church in multiple ways, with her favorite times assisting with ministries that impacted children.

Some of Jean's favorite hobbies were gardening, sewing, quilting, baking, reading, and traveling. Above all, she loved spending time with her family and friends. She had raved about her recent summer trip to Niagara Falls with daughter Tammy and granddaughter Ella. One of her favorite times with family was her monthly YaYa luncheon with her sisters, nieces, and any other strong female relative available that day. A favorite time with her friends was her card party group that has been together for over 50 years.

Those left to cherish her memory are her husband Bob, five children: Rusty and Chris De Jong, Angie and Tom Walter, Dave and Amy De Jong, Tammy and Dan Rankin, and Ben and Kristal De Jong; fourteen grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. Jean is also survived by her siblings: Jerry Malloy of Summerfield, Florida, Barbara Hastings of Middle Amana, Iowa, Phyllis Allgood of Muskego, Wisconsin, Marcia Michelson of Lauderhill, Florida, Dale and Sally Malloy of Oskaloosa, Iowa, and Kathy and Randy Sinclair of Pella; and in-laws Marion and Glenda Klyn of Pella.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents Aca and Marcella Malloy, her sisters: Joann Malloy and Joan Hodson, brothers: Donald Malloy, Kenneth Malloy, and Jack Malloy; as well as many brothers and sisters-in-law.

Jean's family:

Bob De Jong of Pella

Rusty and Chris De Jong of Green Castle, Missouri
Elizabeth and Jon Phelps
Norah
Jessica De Jong
Ladan, Maci, Presley
Josh De Jong
Corby De Jong

Angie and Tom Walter of Ellicott City, Maryland
Travis Walter
Rachel Walter
Alyssa Walter

Dave and Amy De Jong of Red Wing, Minnesota
Abraham De Jong
Cecelia De Jong
Louis De Jong

Tammy and Dan Rankin of Knoxville, Iowa
Ella Rankin
Isaac Rankin

Ben and Kristal De Jong of Cedar Falls, Iowa
Kaleah De Jong
Adeline De Jong

Visitation

1:00 P.M., Friday, December 9, 2016
Family will be present 5:00 - 7:00 P.M.
Garden Chapel Funeral Home
Pella, Iowa

Funeral Services

10:30 A.M., Saturday, December 10, 2016
Ebenezer Reformed Church
Leighton, Iowa

Memorials

Angel Tree Camp
First Reformed Church

Family

Husband: Robert De Jong, Pella
Children: Rusty and Chris De Jong, Green Castle, Missouri
Angie and Tom Walter, Ellicott City, Maryland
Dave and Amy De Jong, Red Wing, Minnesota
Tammy and Dan Rankin, Knoxville, Iowa
Ben and Kristal De Jong, Cedar Falls, Iowa