Funeral services for Wendell Warren DeBoer, 87, of Hollandale will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Hollandale Christian Reformed Church. The Rev. Gary Brouwers will officiate. Interment will be in the Hollandale Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Wendell died Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, at Good Samaritan Center.
Wendell Warren DeBoer was born on May 22, 1921, to Harko and Jennie (Holleman) DeBoer in Platte, S.D. He was united in marriage to Tena Stegenga on Oct. 10, 1945 in Hollandale. Wendell farmed for 10 years and was employed as a supervisor at Wilson & Co in Albert Lea for 30 years. He was a member of the Hollandale Christian Reformed Church and served as Sunday school teacher, elder and deacon for many terms.
Wendell’s pride and joy was his family – children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Wendell loved to engage with people, socializing with a cup of coffee, teasing, joking and telling Wilson stories. He volunteered at Good Samaritan for eight years.
Wendell enjoyed life. Whether he was building something, gardening, working outdoors or helping others, he did it with enthusiasm. Other passions were singing hymns, studying the Bible and discussing it. Wendell relished traveling and camping with his family and took them to 48 states. Tena and Wendell spent 23 years wintering as snowbirds in Texas.
Survivors include his wife, Tena; children, Carolyn (Joe) Enderlin, Pam Luinenburg, and Joel (Deb) DeBoer; grandchildren, Faye (Michael), Chad (Melissa), Brian, Lisa, and Kia; great-grandchildren, Allie, Jasmine, Chris, Ginger, and Cayden; sisters, Jennie Loverink, Alice DeBoer and Lena DeBoer of Hollandale, Evelyn Christians and Viola Eechoff of Kanawaha, Iowa; brother, Paul and wife Kathleen DeBoer of Albert Lea; in-laws, Al and Bonnie Stegenga of Hollandale, Ralph and Marilyn Stegenga of Albert Lea, Dorothy Stegenga of Hollandale, Karen Stegenga of Albert Lea, and Herm and Janet Stegenga of Saldotna, Ala.
Wendell was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Harold and Harko; and sisters, Marie, Nellie, Louise, Ester, Martha, Lillian and Pearl.
Memorials are preferred to Hollandale Christian School and the American Cancer Society.