David Bernard De Vries

Alvord, IA:   David (Dave) Bernard DeVries, 78, of Alvord, Iowa, passed away at the Dougherty Hospice House on Sunday, April 11, 2021, leaving his earthly life and entering into the glory and the healing arms of his loving Heavenly Father, while surrounded by the love of his family.  Funeral services will be held Friday, April 16, at 10:00 AM at Inwood Christian Reformed Church with Rev. Adam Eisenga officiating. Burial will follow at Richland Cemetery of Inwood. Visitation will be held Thursday, April 15, from 2:00-8:00 PM with the family present from 6:00-8:00 PM at Inwood CRC. Memorials may be given to the Union Gospel Mission Sioux Falls (https://ugmsiouxfalls.com/).

   Dave was born to Oscar and Gertrude (Mulder) DeVries on August 31, 1942 on a farm near Inwood, IA, the third of five children.  The family moved to a farm near Alvord where he grew up, doing chores and field work, attending and graduating from the nearby country school.  In 1963 he made public profession of his faith in Jesus Christ and joined into the full fellowship of the Christian Reformed Church in Inwood.  In September 1967 Dave met the love of his life Linda (Den Hartog) in Sioux Falls, SD and they were married on July 12, 1968 at the Inwood Christian Reformed Church. They remained on the farm near Alvord where they raised four children. It gave him immeasurable joy to watch them grow, mature, and profess their love for the Lord.  Family vacations to beautiful and historic locations were an annual event for many years. The family also enjoyed many Saturday trips to the drive in.

   In 1997 Dave and Linda moved to an acreage near the farm, where Dave continued to stay active with yard work, projects, finishing the basement and helping Linda with housework.  He especially loved working with his son Mike in the field. He also really enjoyed shooting his Sharps rifle long distance, taught himself how to cast bullets to make his own ammunition and loved it when family joined him to watch.  

   Dave was a history enthusiast and delved deeply into understanding the foundation and workings of our country, reading many complex books and watching documentaries. Farming and raising pigs was his lifelong work and he endeavored to be a good steward of all God given resources, especially of the family farm land. He and Linda enjoyed many concerts together.  He enjoyed indulging in a strawberry shake and onion rings.

   Dave was a man whose character was marked by his faith in God, truth, justice, kindness, fairness, and empathy for others.  With his great insight and wisdom, he was a rock for Linda and his family through many trials and tribulations.  In his last years and final days with cancer, frail health prevented him from enjoying many activities, but he spent that time surrounded by family.

   Blessed to remember and share the memory of his steadfast loving care are his wife, Linda; sons, Michael (Karen) of Alvord, IA, Shawn of Doon, IA, and Seth (Kari) of Doon, IA; daughter, Sarah (Tim) Altena of Garretson, SD; Grandchildren, Abigail, Matthew, John and Amanda DeVries, (Li'l) Seth, Ethan and Christian DeVries; great-grandson, Nathan Burgus; brother, Oscar (Lori) of Sioux Falls, SD; sisters, Arlene Kooistra of Hills, MN and Joyce (John) Tracy of Marionville, MO; and many other relatives.  He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Gert Van Roekel; brothers-in-law, Arie Kiel, Abe Van Roekel and John Kooistra; as well as some of Linda's family.