Jacob C. “Jake” DeBoer
Jacob C. “Jake” DeBoer
Marion
Jacob C. (Jake) DeBoer, 91, of Marion (previously Cedar Rapids), Iowa, passed away at The Views of Marion on Aug. 10, 2023, in the presence of members of his family.
Jake was born to Cornelious and Clara (Beukema) DeBoer in Chicago, Ill., on April 19, 1932. He attended Chicago Christian High School and at age 18 went to work in the mailroom for Ryerson Steel Company. He worked for Ryerson throughout his entire work career of 47 years. While working he also attended night classes at Northwestern University. He grew in his role as a salesman serving territories in Illinois, Michigan, and eventually settling in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1964. Jake became Ryerson’s top salesman, an honor he held until his retirement in 1997.
He was married to his wife Lois (Heath), daughter of Alvin and Marguerite Heath, in 1956. They were blessed with five children, Karen, Corky, Jane, Linda, and Curt. Together they raised their family, first in South Holland, Ill., and then Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Lois was the love of his life and they enjoyed 67 years together. Following their 25th anniversary they enjoyed traveling around the U.S. and the world.
God’s word in Scripture, faith in the saving grace of Jesus Christ, and living a life of obedience to the Lord were important to Jake. He knew that his only comfort in life and in death came from his faithful Savior. Jake and Lois have been members of the Cedar Hills Community Church since their move to Iowa. Jake served faithfully as an elder and often represented his church at Classis and Synod events of the Reformed Church in America.
Jake lived a full and active life that included hunting, fishing, golf, working on vehicles in “Jake’s Garage,” and enjoying Hawkeye football and basketball. A special memory for all of his family members were yearly vacations to Bowstring Lake in northern Minnesota. Jake loved the relationships he developed with his family, friends, and customers – he could make you feel like the most important person in the room when he engaged in a conversation with you – and his laugh was unforgettable.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife Lois, children Karen and Earl Woudstra, Corky and Roslyn (Wolterstorff) De Boer, Jane DeBoer, Linda and Dave Gore, and Curt and Denise (McKinnon) DeBoer, grandchildren Brandon and Kyndara Woudstra, Jaime and Scott Meyer, Brady and Delainye Woudstra, Jenna and TJ Vreugdenhil, Derek and Amanda DeBoer, Troy DeBoer, Kelsey DeBoer, Andy and Katie Webber, Josh and Natalie Hardy, Ryan and Holly Gauper, Lacey and Dave Foster, Casey and Jen DeBoer, Jason and Carla De Boer, and 30 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Robert and Carole DeBoer, brother-in-law Richard Burnett, and many nephews and nieces.
In addition to his parents and his wife’s parents, he was preceded in death by grandson in infancy, Bret DeBoer, grandson Army Sgt. Matthew Webber, sister Carol Van Kalker, brother-in-law John Van Kalker, and sister-in-law Carole Jones.
Visitation with the family will be held at 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories on Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023. A memorial service will immediately follow at 1 p.m. Interment will be held at the Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery following the service.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the Bible League.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.