Donald D. De Jager

Rock Valley, IA: Donald Dean De Jager, 87, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at Whispering Heights in Rock Valley. A funeral service will be held Friday, October 11, at 11:00 AM at Calvin Christian Reformed Church with Rev. Gideon Wamala officiating. The service can be livestreamed at https://calvincrcrv.org/watch-live/. Burial will follow at Valley View Cemetery of Rock Valley. Visitation with the family present will be held prior to the service from 9:30-10:30 AM at Calvin CRC.

 Memorials may be directed to Rock Valley Christian School. Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley has been entrusted with Don’s funeral arrangements.

 Donald Dean De Jager, son of Henry and Rena (Siegersma) De Jager, was born April 26, 1937, on a farm near Ireton, Iowa. Don met his wife, Helen Van Middendorp, while riding together in carpool from the country to attend Rock Valley Christian School. Their friendship grew, and lifelong best friends were married on November 20, 1957, at the First Reformed Church in Rock Valley, Iowa. They started their married life on the farm and had their first daughter, Leanne, in Edgerton, Minnesota. Don and Helen moved to a farm near Maurice, Iowa where he farmed some land, milked cows, and cared for chickens and pigs. While living near Maurice for four years their family grew with three sons, Darwin, Mike, and Herlan. In 1964 Don’s dad, Henry, retired from farming near Alvord, Iowa. Don and Helen moved to the “home place” and continued his passion of farming, and had their 5th child, Kyle. 

 Don enjoyed farming, while he did most of the milking, Helen was working alongside taking care of the chickens and running the household. In the earlier years of marriage, they enjoyed taking the kids fishing and visiting grandpa Henry in Minnesota. As the children grew older and took care of the farm, Don and Helen enjoyed several trips together traveling to Hawaii and Alaska. They also enjoyed taking bus trips with friends and family. Don faithfully attended Calvin CRC in Rock Valley where he served as a deacon. Don believed strongly in Christian education, and he imprinted the values of family and faith into his children’s lives.

 Don is survived by his wife of 66 years, Helen; 5 children, daughter, Leanne (Roger) Kriz of Sioux Falls, South Dakota and their children, Nick (Megan) Kriz and Stacey Kriz, son, Darwin (Carla) De Jager of Doon, Iowa and their children, Angela (Andon) De Boer, Joshua (Shonna) De Jager, and Cody (Sarah) De Jager, son, Michael (Margaret) De Jager of Doon and their children, Jesse De Jager, Lacey (Jeremy) Ballew, Michaela (Michael) Van Surksum, and Kasia Van Egdom, son, Herlan (Jeaneen) De Jager of Rock Valley, Iowa and their children, Eric (Melissa) De Jager, Alex (Ashley) De Jager, Andrew (Carissa) De Jager, and Emily De Jager, and son, Kyle (Mindy) De Jager of Alvord, Iowa and their children, Kylie De Jager, Kaden De Jager, and Maddyn De Jager; 31 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters, Alvina Van’t Hul of Rock Valley and Lois (Roger) Baatz of Rock Rapids, Iowa; brother, Loren (Sandy) De Jager of Hull, Iowa; sister-in-law, Mary Van Middendorp of Sioux Center, Iowa; and brother-in-law, Berwin Van Middendorp of Sioux Center.

 Don was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Rena De Jager; daughter, Mona Joy De Jager; 2 brothers, Harvey De Jager and Bernard (Martha) De Jager; and 3 brothers-in-law, Bernard Van’t Hul, Merlin Boeve and John Van Middendorp.