John DeRooi

John Wayne DeRooi was born August 11, 1933, to Joseph and Effie (Van Engelenhoven) DeRooi, at his parents’ home in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

John was an only child who grew up on what would become a century farm.  He attended Prine Country School through eighth grade. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954 and was honorably discharged in 1956.

On June 24, 1954, he was united in marriage to Gladys Ann Pothoven in the Peoria Christian Reformed Church. To this union they were blessed with five children: Valerie, Kent, Keith, Robert and Jeffrey. John farmed with his dad and continued with his sons. He made public profession of his faith in the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. He was currently a member of Covenant Reformed Church where he served as an elder many times. He loved his life’s work as a farmer and caring for the land was his joy.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Gladys and their family:

Valerie Dawn Duke, Hiawatha, Iowa

            Melissa and Chad Seaton

                        Mason, Riley

            Megan and Derek Swan

                        Sophia, Emmett

Kent J. DeRooi, Oskaloosa

            Jennifer DeRooi

                        Harmony

            Heidi and Matthew Koster

                        Laila, Lydia, Lucas, Lily

            Zachary DeRooi

            Jesse DeRooi

The late Keith Bryan DeRooi and Valerie (Rhoads) DeRooi, Oskaloosa

            Tyler and Nicole DeRooi

                        Ella, Everett

Robert John and Kandy (Swank) DeRooi, Oskaloosa

            Michael DeRooi

            Michelle DeRooi (Jon Herr)

            Jamie and Logan Anderson

                        Livia

Jeffrey Wayne DeRooi, Oskaloosa

John is also survived by two sisters-in-law: Vera Franje of New Sharon, and Marcia Pothoven of Peoria.

John was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law Otto and Effie (Stursma) Pothoven, son Keith DeRooi, sisters-in-law: Gladys Pothoven and Cathryn Van Wyk; brothers-in-law: Harry Van Wyk, Marion Franje, and Stan Pothoven.

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