Christel de Jong was born Aug. 25, 1958, in Monschau, Germany. She graduated from George Fox University and received a master's degree from Boston University. In 1986, she married Randal.
Christel was a teacher at Centennial Middle School. She was known for her disarming strict-but-warm teaching style that positively influenced scores of students.
Chris was athletic and loved the outdoors. She was an excellent swimmer and she loved to snow ski. She and her husband Randy biked and hiked with enthusiastic vigor, preferring campfires and open skies above anything else. She was extraordinarily intelligent, especially in the areas of language and math. In her off-time she loved to read big thick complex books. Chris charmed everyone with her melodic German accent and her affable smile. She was youthful in both appearance and spirit.
Because of Chris' formidable "can-do" attitude, most people did not know she had fought cancer for many years. She would not allow cancer to define her and she was gracefully strong and determined all the way up to the end. Christel believed in the healing properties of work and nature and most of all in stewardship and love. Christel's far-reaching influence helped guide many students to success. She helped young folks learn new skills, test their boundaries and gain self-confidence that will last them a lifetime.
Christel was my neighbor and my friend.
Survivors include her husband of twenty years, Randal; parents, Fritz and Maria de Jong; stepsons, Randal Jr. and Michael; stepdaughters, Michelle Dickinson and Jill Jordan; sister, Thekla de Jong; brother, Hansi de Jong; and seven grandchildren (who lovingly called her "Oma", the German word for Grandma).
Christel was a teacher at Centennial Middle School. She was known for her disarming strict-but-warm teaching style that positively influenced scores of students.
Chris was athletic and loved the outdoors. She was an excellent swimmer and she loved to snow ski. She and her husband Randy biked and hiked with enthusiastic vigor, preferring campfires and open skies above anything else. She was extraordinarily intelligent, especially in the areas of language and math. In her off-time she loved to read big thick complex books. Chris charmed everyone with her melodic German accent and her affable smile. She was youthful in both appearance and spirit.
Because of Chris' formidable "can-do" attitude, most people did not know she had fought cancer for many years. She would not allow cancer to define her and she was gracefully strong and determined all the way up to the end. Christel believed in the healing properties of work and nature and most of all in stewardship and love. Christel's far-reaching influence helped guide many students to success. She helped young folks learn new skills, test their boundaries and gain self-confidence that will last them a lifetime.
Christel was my neighbor and my friend.
Survivors include her husband of twenty years, Randal; parents, Fritz and Maria de Jong; stepsons, Randal Jr. and Michael; stepdaughters, Michelle Dickinson and Jill Jordan; sister, Thekla de Jong; brother, Hansi de Jong; and seven grandchildren (who lovingly called her "Oma", the German word for Grandma).
Christel de Jong was born Aug. 25, 1958, in Monschau, Germany. She graduated from George Fox University and received a master's degree from Boston University. In 1986, she married Randal.
Christel was a teacher at Centennial Middle School. She was known for her disarming strict-but-warm teaching style that positively influenced scores of students.
Chris was athletic and loved the outdoors. She was an excellent swimmer and she loved to snow ski. She and her husband Randy biked and hiked with enthusiastic vigor, preferring campfires and open skies above anything else. She was extraordinarily intelligent, especially in the areas of language and math. In her off-time she loved to read big thick complex books. Chris charmed everyone with her melodic German accent and her affable smile. She was youthful in both appearance and spirit.
Because of Chris' formidable "can-do" attitude, most people did not know she had fought cancer for many years. She would not allow cancer to define her and she was gracefully strong and determined all the way up to the end. Christel believed in the healing properties of work and nature and most of all in stewardship and love. Christel's far-reaching influence helped guide many students to success. She helped young folks learn new skills, test their boundaries and gain self-confidence that will last them a lifetime.
Christel was my neighbor and my friend.
Survivors include her husband of twenty years, Randal; parents, Fritz and Maria de Jong; stepsons, Randal Jr. and Michael; stepdaughters, Michelle Dickinson and Jill Jordan; sister, Thekla de Jong; brother, Hansi de Jong; and seven grandchildren (who lovingly called her "Oma", the German word for Grandma).
Christel was a teacher at Centennial Middle School. She was known for her disarming strict-but-warm teaching style that positively influenced scores of students.
Chris was athletic and loved the outdoors. She was an excellent swimmer and she loved to snow ski. She and her husband Randy biked and hiked with enthusiastic vigor, preferring campfires and open skies above anything else. She was extraordinarily intelligent, especially in the areas of language and math. In her off-time she loved to read big thick complex books. Chris charmed everyone with her melodic German accent and her affable smile. She was youthful in both appearance and spirit.
Because of Chris' formidable "can-do" attitude, most people did not know she had fought cancer for many years. She would not allow cancer to define her and she was gracefully strong and determined all the way up to the end. Christel believed in the healing properties of work and nature and most of all in stewardship and love. Christel's far-reaching influence helped guide many students to success. She helped young folks learn new skills, test their boundaries and gain self-confidence that will last them a lifetime.
Christel was my neighbor and my friend.
Survivors include her husband of twenty years, Randal; parents, Fritz and Maria de Jong; stepsons, Randal Jr. and Michael; stepdaughters, Michelle Dickinson and Jill Jordan; sister, Thekla de Jong; brother, Hansi de Jong; and seven grandchildren (who lovingly called her "Oma", the German word for Grandma).
