John DeGier

John DeGier, son of John Sr. and Maartje (DeJong) DeGier, was born August 10, 1909 in Haarlememeer, Holland . John was baptized in the Netherlands , and then in 1911, his family immigrated to southwestern North Dakota near South Heart, where they began farming. They later moved to a farm in the Milnor, ND area, where John grew up and received his schooling. In 1925, the family moved once again to the Hancock, Minnesota area, where they continued farming. On December 31, 1933, John was united in marriage to Ann DeJager in Hancock. The couple made their home in the Hancock area, where they lived and farmed most of their married life. In 1987, the couple moved into Hancock, and on September 19 ^th of that year, Ann passed away. John continued living in Hancock until entering the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck in 2002. John always felt that the loving caregivers at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home had really become part of his extended family.

John was a long-time member of the Christian Reformed Church in Hancock, where he had served on the church council and various other committees. He loved to visit with friends and family and share his many stories and experiences, and he enjoyed traveling and said he wished he could have seen even more of the world. John also shared that his marriage and his family were his greatest inspirations in life.

John died on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at the Minnewaska Lutheran Home in Starbuck , MN , having lived to reach the age of 99 years.

He is survived by his daughter: Carol ( Lowell ) Evink of Hancock; four grandchildren: Lorrie ( Gary ) Joos, LuJean (Pete) Verhoeven, Rollin (Tessa) Evink and Bruce (Donna) Evink and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; two sisters, two brothers and three siblings in infancy.