Garrit De Bruin

Garrit De Bruin, age 84 of Rock Rapids, IA died Sunday, July 19, 2009 at the Rock Rapids Health Centre in Rock Rapids, IA. Funeral service will be 9:30 AM, Friday, July 24th at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, IA, with Rev. H. Hofman officiating. Burial will follow at Hillside Cemetery in Doon, IA. Visitation will be Thursday, July 23rd from 2:00 to 8:00 PM, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids. In Lieu of flowers memorials are preferred. Garrit De Bruin was born May 9, 1925 near Maurice, Iowa, the son of John Peter and Maria (Beukhof) De Bruin. He attended country school and helped his family with the farming duties. At age eleven, he and his family moved to a farm east of Alvord, IA. On December 29, 1948 Garrit was united in marriage to Marlys Postma at the Rock Rapids Community Building. Together they lived and farmed various places in the area until moving to a farm south of Rock Rapids, IA in 1967. Garrit retired from farming in 1994 and he and Marlys moved to a home in Rock Rapids. Garrit was a member of the Netherlands Reformed Church in Sioux Center, IA. Besides farming, he enjoyed going to the salebarns, trucking with his pick up and trailer, driving through the country and checking on the family farm daily until his health declined. He loved spending time with family and friends, especially his grandchildren. In late December of 2008, Garrit entered the Rock Rapids Health Care Centre where he remained until this past Sunday, July 19, 2009 when he died at the age of 84. Left to cherish his memory, a loving wife of 60 years, Marlys De Bruin of Rock Rapids, IA; five children, Garry (wife, Robin) De Bruin of Rock Valley, IA, Marsha (husband, Merle) Newborg of Alvord, IA, Dean (wife, Janine) De Bruin, Cheryl (husband, Randy) Bos and Kevin De Bruin, all of Rock Rapids, IA; eleven grandchildren, Kimberle Bos, Kayla (husband, Thomas) Vander Lee, Jackie De Bruin, Melissa Newborg, R. Kody Bos, David De Bruin, Matthew Newborg, Karlee Bos, Bergin De Bruin and Madisyn Newborg; two sisters, Marie (husband, Gilbert) Postma of Doon, IA and Helena Niemeyer of Doon, IA; three sisters-in-law, Henrietta De Bruin of Hull, IA, Hermina De Bruin and Arlene De Bruin, both of Lynden, WA; a brother-in-law, Ken (wife, Harriet) Postma of Doon, IA; many other extended family; and close friend, Ron Kellenberger. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Maria De Bruin; four sisters, Jennie Teunissen, Clara De Vries, infant Marie De Bruin and Irene Rietsma; five brothers, Tom De Bruin, Albert De Bruin, Henry John De Bruin, John Peter De Bruin and Jacob De Bruin.