Dorothy Wilhelmina DeRonde
January 23, 1918 - March 4, 2016

Life Legacy
Dorothy DeRonde, 98, of Oskaloosa, passed away Friday afternoon, March 4, 2016, at Homestead Assisted Living.

Dorothy Wilhelmina DeRonde was born January 23rd, 1918, at her family's home in rural Oskaloosa, Iowa. She was the 3rd of 14 children born to William and Jennie (Bouma) VanWeelden. She attended Red School in rural Oskaloosa, completing eighth grade. After that time, she was needed to help at home.

From the age of 15 she knew she and Kryn DeRonde had a future together, and when he secured a farm near Eddyville to rent, they were married, February 21, 1941.They were blessed with eight children. Kryn and Dorothy farmed near Eddyville for three years before moving to a farm near Wright. They spent 9 years there before being able to purchase a farm southwest of Oskaloosa, where they lived for their remaining years together. There they worked hard to maintain their humble yet happy home and raise their children. Dorothy was a loving and patient mother and was an excellent cook, gardener and seamstress. She continually displayed the fruits of the Spirit to her friends and family, even up to the moments of her entrance into heaven. She and Kryn were active members of the First Christian Reformed Church of Oskaloosa where Dorothy enjoyed the Ladies Bible Hour.

After her children were grown, Dorothy took a nurses aide course. She fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams of being able to give nursing care for people in the hospital or in their homes and passed that “nurse gene” on to many of her children and grandchildren. She and Kryn enjoyed traveling, especially to California to visit their daughters. Kryn passed away from heart disease in 1986. Dorothy remained on the farm for 3 more years before moving to Oskaloosa. She lived in her own home for 10 years, a condo for 10 years, and then moved to Maple Ridge (Homestead) assisted living in 2009. She loved the people and activities there and was always smiling and friendly, eager to get to know each staff member or resident. She had an excellent memory for facts and faces and enjoyed playing games and was a life-long learner. She loved and prayed for her family continually, and it was her greatest hope that all her loved ones would have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.

Her family includes six children: Neil and Betty (Schinkel) De Ronde of Oskaloosa, Delores (Vande Krol, De Ronde) and Gary Keith of Oskaloosa, Judy Hofmans of Hanford, CA, Janice and Cor Hofmans of Hanford, CA, Aleda and Randy Rolffs of Pella, IA, Kevin and Linda De Ronde of Oskaloosa, IA, Carol De Ronde of Oskaloosa, IA, and Dot and Duane Bruxvoort of Pella, IA; 29 grandchildren, 67 great grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her sons, Bill, and Steve and grandson Daniel Keith.

She is survived by her siblings: Rev. James (Adrianna) Van Weelden of Grimsby, Canada, Ernie and MaryAnn Van Weelden of Woden, IA, Anna (Rich) Kelderman of Oskaloosa, IA, Harold and Eileen Van Weelden, and Fran and Les Spoelstra of Redlands, CA. She was preceded in death by John (Kay) Van Weelden, Sylvia (Gerrit) Kelderman, Hank (Grace) Van Weelden, Bill (Joann, Wilma) Van Weelden, Ray (Agnes, Wilma) Van Weelden, Pete (Jeannette, Ruth) Van Weelden, and Jean (Cornie) Boender.

She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Teunis Hol of Oskaloosa and was preceded in death by Kryn’s brothers and sisters: Johanna, Jennie, and Kay (John) Van Weelden, Elizabeth Hol, Anna (Elmer) Ryken, Jake and Margaret DeRonde, and Wilma (Jerry) Deppe.

Funeral Services for Dorothy will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 9, 2016, at the First Christian Reformed Church with Rev. Dale Visser officiating. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 a.m. in the fellowship hall preceding the funeral service. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., Tuesday at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa; the family will be at the church from 5-7 to greet visitors. Memorials may be made to the Oskaloosa Christian School.