Leon Jay De Groot

Leon Jay De Groot

Leon Jay De Groot

Leon Jay De Groot
September 3, 1962 – February 24, 2015
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 52

Leon Jay De Groot, 52, of rural Oskaloosa, peacefully went to be with his Savior on Tuesday afternoon, February 24, 2015, at Mercy Hospital Medical Center in Des Moines. He was born September 3, 1962, in Oskaloosa, the son of Lee and Linda (Van Ommen) De Groot.

Leon was a graduate of the Oskaloosa Christian Grade School, and Pella Christian High School in 1980. Following graduation, he was united in marriage to his high school sweetheart Lana Vande Kamp at the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella on September 18, 1981.

Following their marriage, Leon had a variety of jobs: working on the family farm, working as a hired hand, working for his father-in-law at Pella Precast and working for Knox Farms. Leon and Lana moved several times before being blessed with the opportunity to farm on their own, renting a farm north of Oskaloosa, which they have called home for 28 years. In all of the places God led them, farming on his own was always Leon’s desire.

Leon and Lana were blessed with four children, Leah Jo, Lucas Jay, Lacey Lynn, and Layton Lee. During his lifetime, Leon enjoyed spending time with his grandkids; working on the farm; and working at several sale barns. He also served as the 4H Beef Superintendent for several years where he enjoyed working with the youth.

Leon was a member of the First Christian Reformed Church where he was a deacon, youth elder, Sunday school teacher, and young people’s leader. He especially enjoyed using his talents and abilities on youth group mission trips, and always made an effort to reach out to the members in his church congregation to make them feel welcome.

His family includes his wife, of over 33 years, Lana; their children: Leah (& Rob) Bruxvoort of New Sharon and their children: Sydney, Lane, Clay, and one due in April; Lucas (& Merribeth) De Groot of Oskaloosa, and their children: Olivia, Nora, and Violet; Lacey (& Seth) Beenken of Bancroft, Iowa, and their children: Axel and Asa; and Layton (& Deann) De Groot of Oskaloosa, and their daughter, Raegan and one due in July. Also surviving are his father and stepmother Lee and Carolyn De Groot of Oskaloosa; a brother, Larry (& Sue) De Groot of Rose Hill; a sister, Lori (& Alan) Eekhoff of Kanawha, Iowa, another brother, Laverne (& Kristi) De Groot of Arvada, Colorado; a step brother, John (& Angie) Armstrong of Oskaloosa, and a step sister Yoma (& Gary) Lancial of Oskaloosa.

Leon was preceded in death by his mother, Linda (Van Ommen) De Groot.

Funeral services will be held Friday, February 27, 2015 at 11 a.m. in the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa with the Reverend Dale Visser officiating.
A Family Prayer Service will be Friday at 10 a.m. in the basement of the church.
Burial will be in the Forest Cemetery at Oskaloosa, following the Family Prayer Service.
Visitation will be held in the Fellowship Hall of First Christian Reformed Church beginning on Thursday after 12 noon, and the family will be at the church on Thursday from 4 — 8 p.m. to greet friends and relatives. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the Bates Funeral Chapel.
Memorials may be made to the Oskaloosa Christian Grade School or Pella Christian High School.

Posted by on Feb 25 2015. Filed under Obituaries. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.

Comments are closed

         

Search Archive

Search by Date
Search by Category
Search with Google
Log in | Copyright by Oskaloosa News