Arthur William DeBoef
Arthur William DeBoef
Arthur William DeBoef
April 14, 1915 – July 10, 2015
New Sharon, Iowa | Age 100
Arthur DeBoef, 100, of New Sharon passed away Friday morning, July 10, 2015 at his home in New Sharon. Arthur William DeBoef, son of John and Gertie (Branderhorst) DeBoef, was born April 14, 1915 in rural Oskaloosa.
Arthur attended grade school in Mahaska county. At the age of fourteen, when his father went into real estate, he assumed the operations of the family farm. In 1940, he married Jeanetta Rozenboom and they resided on a farm southeast of Lacey. Arthur continued to farm for 38 years. He and Jeanetta became the parents of 12 children: John, Clarence, Harold, Duane, Lucille, La Verne, Arvin, Rose, Phil, and three premature children, Lily, Darrell and Carol.
Jeanetta passed away in 1964, leaving behind Arthur and the nine children. In 1965, he married Velma Kooistra, a missionary to Africa and South America. Together they continued to raise the family. In 1979, when all the children were grown and married, they retired from the farm and moved to New Sharon. From there they went into a helps ministry which took them to several states and foreign countries including Texas, New York, Alaska, the Northwest Territories of Canada, Mexico, El Salvador and Guatemala. They also distributed Bibles in China. In more recent years, they continued to minister locally.
Arthur is survived by his nine children and spouses: John (& Pat) DeBoef, Clarence (& Marion) DeBoef, Harold (& Betty) DeBoef, Duane (& Linda) DeBoef, Lucille (& Chuck) Richardson, La Verne (& Carol Sue) DeBoef, Arvin (& Crystal) DeBoef, Rose (& Dave) Bennett, and Phil DeBoef. He is also survived by his 34 grandchildren and 101 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his two wives, Jeanetta and Velma; his three premature children: Lily, Darrell and Carol; a brother, William; and a sister, Marie Veldhuizen.
Funeral services will begin at 10:30 AM Monday, July 13, 2015 at the New Sharon First Christian Church with lunch immediately following the service in the fellowship hall of the church. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of New Sharon is in charge of arrangements.
Burial will be held in the Evergreen Cemetery in Leighton at 1:30 PM.
Visitation will begin after 1:00 PM Sunday, July 12, 2015 at the New Sharon First Christian Church with the family present from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice Serenity House, Oskaloosa Christian School or The Legacy Home.
