Jo Ann "Joey" De Vries

Joey was born at home on March 25, 1936, to Bert and Hilda Van Haaften on their family farm south east of Pella. She attended Black Oak Center Country School, then graduated from Pella Community High School.

On December 20, 1955, she was united in marriage to Syburn De Vries at the Third Reformed Church, where she was baptized as a baby and professed her faith in her teenaged years. To this union they were blessed with two children, Wendell and Joan.

Together, they farmed the family farm by Peoria with Sy’s brother Harold and his wife Leona. Later they moved east of Pella to continue farming. They had a farm sale in 1970 and moved to Pella.

Joey loved people and delighted in serving them, she waitressed at West End Café, The Maid Rite and Central Park Café in Pella  till Hy-Vee opened in 1975, she then became a meat wrapper. She later moved to Des Moines and was employed by Hy-Vee there too till she retired and moved back to Pella. When you saw her in the aisle there truly was a smile in every isle.

Joey was diagnosed with dementia which led her to Crystal Heights in Oskaloosa for a year then was blessed to move back home at The Cottages in Pella.

Joey was always a lot of fun to be around and loved to make people laugh. Her wonderful smile and beautiful spirit will be remembered by many. She enjoyed singing hymns and hearing scripture till her very last day here on earth.

Her Children, Grandchildren, and Great-Grandchildren –

Wendell and Melanie De Vries, Thompson Station, Tennessee

            Michele and Lewis Jumpeter

            Stacey and Ron Sarver

                        Kelvey, Kinley

Rick and Joan Van Zante, Pella

                        Christina and Scott Marlow

                                    Payton, Cadynce, Beckym

                        Chelsea and Josh Cowman

                                    Lake, Harper, Maechen, Willow

                        Brandyn and Emily Van Zante

                                    Bray-Lynne, Barclay, Broderyck, Blythe

She is also survived by her brother Arnold Van Haaften of Altoona.

Joey was preceded in death by her parents Bert and Hilda Van Haaften, her sisters: Geraldine Hughes, Madelyn Ruud, and Junella “June” Verros.  

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.