Dorothy De Jong
Dorothy De Jong
February 6, 1920 – April 6, 2011
Dorothy De Jong, 91 of Oskaloosa and formerly of New Sharon passed away Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at the Crystal Heights Care Center in Oskaloosa. Funeral services will begin at 2:00 pm on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at the New Sharon First Christian Church with Pastor Phil DeBoef officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held in the Friends Cemetery in New Sharon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Crystal Heights Care Center.
Dorothy Beryl De Jong, daughter of George Washington and Nellie Grace (Meeker) Whitehead was born on February 6, 1920 in Union Township Mahaska County. She attended school in Browntown and Deep River before graduating from New Sharon High School in 1938. During this time she obtained her normal teacher’s certificate. On May 21, 1938, Dorothy was united in marriage to Gilbert De Jong in Newton, Iowa. To this union seven children were born: Dwight, Kay, Twyla, Dick, Linda, Connie and Bonnie. Gilbert and Dorothy resided and raised their children in the New Sharon area. Dorothy was a homemaker. She was an excellent cook; whenever her daughter, Connie, had a good meal she would tell her mom you’re a “big cook”. Dorothy volunteered at the New Sharon Care Center for several years playing Bingo. Dorothy enjoyed quilting, jig saw puzzles, sitting on the porch with her family, playing the piano; one time Dorothy and her sister, Fern, composed a song about a band. She was known for her cooking; especially her electric skillet brownies. Dorothy enjoyed spending time with her family. She was a member of the First Christian Church and the Loyal Daughters.
Her memory is honored by her children, Kay Elscott of Midlothian, Virginia, Twyla (Bob) Septer of New Sharon, Dick (Betty) De Jong Waxahachie, Texas, Linda De Jong of Oskaloosa and Connie De Jong of Oskaloosa; 13 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; one great-great grandson; a daughter-in-law, Diana De Jong of New Sharon; four sisters-in-law, Neva De Jong of Sioux City, Louise Whitehead of New Sharon, Ilean Whitehead of New Sharon and Lugene De Jong of New Sharon and one brother-in-law, Marvel De Jong of Grinnell.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gilbert De Jong; a son, Dwight De Jong; a daughter, Bonnie Roose; seven brothers, Bob Whitehead, Ted Whitehead, John Whitehead, Elmo Whitehead, Max Whitehead, Art Whitehead and Tom Whitehead and three sisters; Maggie Adkins, Fern Gegner and Clara Whitehead in infancy.
Source: harden Funeral Homes
