Lawrence J. DeWild, age 91 of Sheldon, Iowa and formerly of Boyden, Iowa passed away on Monday, September 16, 2013 at Sanford Sheldon Senior Care in Sheldon, Iowa.
Memorial services will be at 11:00 A.M. Friday, September 20, 2013 at the First Reformed Church in Boyden, Iowa with Rev. Matthew Draffen ~ officiating. Burial will be at 10:15 A.M. Friday, September 20, 2013 in the Hope Cemetery ~ Hull, Iowa with Military Graveside Services by the: Hull American Legion Wegman-Koele Post #380
Visitation will be after 4:00 P.M. on Thursday, September 19, 2013 with the family present from 5:00-7:00pm at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home in Boyden, Iowa.
Online memorial condolences may be sent to: vanderploegfunerals.com
Arrangements under the care of Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, Boyden, Iowa.
Lawrence John DeWild was born on November 4, 1921 in Boyden, Iowa the son of Albert John and Henrietta (Werkman) DeWild. He attended school in Boyden and remembers riding his tricycle to school; in fact he came home once because the flag wasn’t flying and he thought the teacher wasn’t there. He enjoyed helping his dad on the farm. He graduated from the Boyden High School in 1939. On December 18, 1942, he joined the United States Army-Air Corp and was stationed in Saipan. After his discharge in January of 1946, he came home to help with the farm. Lawrence was united in marriage to Elnora VerSteeg on February 8, 1946 in Hull, Iowa. They farmed near Boyden until he retired in 1977 and they moved into Boyden. He then worked at the Co-op for a few years. His wife, Elnora preceded him in death on July 25, 1994. Lawrence remained in his home until 2001, when he moved into the Christian Retirement Home in Sheldon and then to Sanford Sheldon Senior Care in May of 2008. Lawrence passed away there on September 16, 2013 reaching the age of 91 years, 10 months and 12 days.
Lawrence was a member of the First Reformed Church in Boyden; serving as an Elder on the Consistory; (he may not have taught Sunday school, but he did teach by example), he was a member of the Hull American Legion Wegman-Koele Post #380 for 69 years. He enjoyed fishing and hunting and being on the farm. Lawrence will be remembered for his kind and gentle heart and unlimited patience.
Lawrence is survived by his 9 children and their spouses, Ardis (Earl) Bonestroo of Sheldon, IA; Arlyn (Donna) DeWild of Hull, IA; Lonna (Merlyn) Smeenk of Harrisburg, SD; Denice (Gary) Brunsting of Centennial, CO; Carleen (Verlyn) Nyhuis of Rock Rapids, IA; Coral (Bill) Moulder of Tacoma, WA; Jarvis (Shari) DeWild of Hull, IA; Laryl (Brenda) DeWild of Boyden and Eldon (LuAnn) DeWild of Hull, IA; twenty-two grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren; a sister and her husband, Evelyn (Dean) Lloyd of Coon Rapids, IA; along with many nieces and nephews, relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elnora; a daughter and her husband, Barbara and Larry Lyells; his parents, a sister, Esther Koedam and a son-in-law, LeRoy Foreman.
