Donald B. De Yong

Rock Rapids, IA       Donald B. De Yong, age 77 of Rock Rapids, IA died on Tuesday, December 15, 2015 at Sanford Rock Rapids Hospital.      Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 19th at Peace Lutheran Church of Rock Rapids, IA, with Rev. Mark Hansen officiating.       Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids.      Visitation will be Friday, December 18th from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids.       Donald Benny De Yong was born December 19, 1937 in Rock Rapids, Iowa, the son of Fred and Elizabeth (Molenaar) De Yong. He was raised on a farm near Rock Rapids and attended country school through the 4th grade, thereafter attending Rock Rapids Community Schools until graduating in 1956. After high school, he worked for Nielsen Electric.       He was united in marriage to Charlene Coy on November 29, 1959 at Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids. In December of 1960, he entered the U.S. Army and was stationed in Ft. Lee, Virginia. He was deployed to Florida during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In December of 1962, he received his honorable discharge and returned to Rock Rapids and began working for the City of Rock Rapids Public Utilities in March of 1963. Don retired from city employment on December 31, 1999 after 37 years of service with both the utilities and street department.       Don was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids for decades, serving as church elder for many years as well as volunteering as an usher and committee member. He served on the Rock Rapids City Council for 9 years. Above all, Don loved caring for and helping his family in any way he could. He also enjoyed farming, gardening and fixing old tractors. Over the years, Don worked with many young men who spent their summers working for the City of Rock Rapids and is remembered by them for his sense of humor and remarkable ability to “fix anything” mechanical. Many have commented that their own work ethic originated from the time they spent working with Don.       He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Charlene De Yong of Rock Rapids, IA; three children, Jeffrey De Yong of Rock Rapids, IA, Gregory (wife, Penny) De Yong of Cape Girardeau, MO and Jana De Yong of Rock Rapids, IA; four grandchildren, Allan, Christian, Andrea and Timothy De Yong; one brother, Arend (wife, Faith) De Yong of Sioux Falls, SD; one sister-in-law, Pamela Coy of Sioux City, IA; two brothers-in-law, Conley (wife, Virginia) Coy and Darrel Steenblock, both of Fremont, NE; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.       He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Elizabeth De Yong; an infant daughter, Lisa De Yong; two sisters, Anna Jacobsen and Jeanette Fisher; three sisters-in-law, Dixie De Yong, Cheryl Faber and Sheila Steenblock; and three brothers-in-law, Lyle Jacobsen, Keith Fisher, and Allen Faber.