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Cleora Helen Van Kooten De Jong

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Birth	:	20 Mar 1936 Sully, Jasper County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	4 Jan 2019 Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA
Burial	:	Evergreen Cemetery, Leighton, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate	:	41.3572006, -92.7881012
Description	:	Cleora Helen Van Kooten was the third of ten children that were born to Gerrit and Durky (Lanser) Van Kooten. She was born on March 20, 1936, at Sully, Iowa and was baptized at the Sully Christian Reformed Church. Cleora attended the Sully Christian Grade School and then stayed at home to help take care of her younger brothers. Cleora and Francis Lee De Jong met at the Leighton Christian Reformed Church in Leighton, Iowa and spent their first date attending a softball game in New Sharon, Iowa. Following his discharge from the United States Army after the Korean War,... Read More	Cleora Helen Van Kooten was the third of ten children that were born to Gerrit and Durky (Lanser) Van Kooten. She was born on March 20, 1936, at Sully, Iowa and was baptized at the Sully Christian Reformed Church. Cleora attended the Sully Christian Grade School and then stayed at home to help take care of her younger brothers. Cleora and Francis Lee De Jong met at the Leighton Christian Reformed Church in Leighton, Iowa and spent their first date attending a softball game in New Sharon, Iowa. Following his discharge from the United States Army after the Korean War, they were united in marriage on a very warm day, December 3, 1954, at the Leighton Christian Reformed Church. Cleora and Fran raised four ornery children: Karen Lynn, Randal Lee, Belinda Joy, and James Alan. Their first home was southeast of Leighton where they lived until the house burned and they moved to Galeston Avenue. Fran farmed there for 40 years. The family then moved east of Leighton and in 1984 moved into town. Cleora worked at Central College in Pella, Iowa for years and cleaned homes for many people. She was also currently the custodian at the Leighton Christian Reformed Church, where she had attended since 1948. She made profession of her faith there and was a member of the Ruth Circle and various Bible study groups over the years. Cleora and Fran were currently two of the three longest living members of the church. Over the years Cleora was a member of the Farm Bureau and neighborhood clubs. Cleora celebrated a normal Christmas with her family and her extended family in 2018. On January 4, 2019, she suddenly became ill and very soon passed away at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. Those who will cherish her memory are her husband of 64 years, Fran, and the following children, 13 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Of her original family Cleora leaves the following sisters and brothers and their spouses: Lois (Hoksbergen) and Ray Klyn of Pella, Janice Wielard of Pella, Dwayne Van Kooten of Denver, Colorado, Roger and Eileen Van Kooten of Pella, Gary and Joyce Van Kooten of Leighton, Wesley and Junella Van Kooten of Leighton; her sisters-in-law: Ruth (Ronald) Van Kooten of Denver, Colorado and Gloria (Harvey) Van Kooten of Pella; and Fran’s sister, Edith Pope of Pella. Cleora was preceded in death by her son, Randal De Jong; her granddaughter, Stacy Jo De Jong; her parents, Gerrit and Durky Van Kooten; a sister who died in infancy, her brothers: Ronald Van Kooten and Harvey Van Kooten, her brothers-in-law, Ralph (Lois) Hoksbergen and Kenneth (Janice) Wielard; her parents-in-law, William and Bertha (Groenendyk) De Jong ; and Fran’s sister, Elsie (Dwayne) Van Kooten, his brother Alvin De Jong and his wife, Arlene, and his brother-in-law, Carroll Pope. Cleora attained the age of 82 years, nine months and 14 days. She will be remembered for her famous potato salad, pigs in the blanket, and Dutch letter bars. She enjoyed the grandkids visits and telephone calls and going to the great-grandchildren’s ball games, birthday parties, and swim meets. Cleora made an afghan or blanket for each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She gardened and canned enough for the whole family. Camping with the family twice a year and going to the Iowa State Fair every year was a highlight each year. She had many names as a great-grandma, lego grandma, camper grandma, and long grandma. Cleora lived for her family and her church family. Memorial contributions are suggested for the Oskaloosa Christian Grade School in Oskaloosa, Iowa or Leighton Christian Reformed Church in Leighton, Iowa [Van Dyk - Duven Funeral Home web site]

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Cleora Helen Van Kooten De Jong's memorial?
Cleora Helen Van Kooten De Jong's memorial is located at: Evergreen Cemetery, Leighton, Mahaska County, USA.
When did Cleora Helen Van Kooten De Jong death?
Cleora Helen Van Kooten De Jong death on 4 Jan 2019 in Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Cleora Helen Van Kooten De Jong's memorial?
Latitude: 41.3572006
Longitude: -92.7881012

Family Members:

Parent

Spouse

Francis Lee “Fran” De Jong

(1932 - 2020)

Siblings

Gary Dean Van Kooten

(1943 - 2019)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Evergreen Cemetery
Leighton, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3572006, -92.7881012

2. Centennial Cemetery
Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3857994, -92.7771988

3. Olivet Cemetery
Leighton, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3147011, -92.8238983

4. Butler Cemetery
Leighton, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3100014, -92.7643967

5. Howard Cemetery
Leighton, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3400000, -92.8612000

6. Mitchell Cemetery
Lacey, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3918000, -92.7223500

7. Black Oak Cemetery
Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3922005, -92.8542023

8. Porter Grove Cemetery
Harvey, Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3502998, -92.8764038

9. Prine Cemetery
Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3280983, -92.7071991

10. Evans Cemetery
Evans, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3027802, -92.7269363

11. Madison Cemetery
Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3577995, -92.6881027

12. Parsons Cemetery
Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3136300, -92.8707470

13. County Home Cemetery
Leighton, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2818985, -92.7677994

14. Rochester Cemetery
Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2689018, -92.7902985

15. Smith Cemetery
Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2724991, -92.8218994

16. Appel Cemetery
Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4474983, -92.7861023

17. Gregory Cemetery
Tracy, Marion County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2910770, -92.8815070

18. Bellefountaine Cemetery
Scott Township, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2803001, -92.8666992

19. Beacon Cemetery
Beacon, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2778015, -92.7080994

20. Chew Cemetery
Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.3166718, -92.6668596

21. Peoria Cemetery
Peoria, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4620018, -92.8040009

22. DeLong-Delashmutt Cemetery
Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.2560005, -92.7460022

23. Jackson Cemetery
New Sharon, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4441230, -92.6989610

24. Weatherwax Cemetery
New Sharon, Mahaska County, USA
Coordinate: 41.4516380, -92.7116580