Maureen Freda Prins
April 28, 1933 - April 19, 2020
Maureen Prins, age 86 of Sanborn, IA, passed away at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Due to the Corona Virus guidelines from the Governor of the State of Iowa, a private family graveside service will take place at a later date at Hospers Cemetery near Hospers, IA.
Maureen Freda Smith was born on April 28, 1933 to Frederick Smith and Francis (Shepherd) Smith in Ipswich Suffolk England.
She was united in marriage to Arthur De Vos on March 22, 1952 in the Church of England in Ipswich. To this union was born two sons: Gary and Gene De Vos. In 1954 they moved to the Sheldon, Iowa area and then to Hospers, Iowa in 1955 where Art worked as a hired man until he passed away on October 24, 1981. Maureen was employed with the Sheldon School system as a cook from 1977 to 1997 when she retired.
On December 27, 1985, Maureen married John Prins at the Christian Reformed Church in Sanborn, Iowa. While making their home in Sanborn, John and Maureen enjoyed many years together fishing up North. Sunday morning coffee after church was a long-standing tradition, remembered fondly by their children and grandchildren. They enjoyed having all the grandchildren over for sleepovers. The boys loaded up in the back of the pickup and went to the Figure 8 Races at Primghar, Iowa while the girls went shopping and stayed up late watching Maureen's favorite English shows on PBS.
John passed away on August 21, 2012. Maureen continued hosting a few of her great-grandchildren after school for Skip-Bo. She loaded them up with laughs and treats! She also loved knitting afghans for her family and for new brides. Maureen moved to Prairie View Manor in Sanborn on March 10, 2015 and lived there until her death on April 19, 2020. She really enjoyed her years there and continued her Sunday coffee tradition.
Maureen enjoyed being an active member of the Sanborn Christian Reformed Church where she enjoyed her Tuesday afternoon Bible Study. She will be remembered by her church family for her English accent (which she didn't have if you asked her) and her love of HOT tea. The children also knew she kept a stash of Smarties and Wilhelmina peppermints in her purse. She was known as "little" Grandma which made her giggle!
Survivors include her sons: Gary (Jan) De Vos, Gene (Lynette) De Vos; and her step-children: Ronda (Duane) Van Veldhuizen, Roy (Jeri) Prins, Lois (Larry) Heemstra, Mark (Lisa) Prins, and Myra (Brian) Wolfswinkel; a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren; two brothers: Paul and John Smith (in England); a sister, Shirley (Ron) Brondum; and many other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick and Francis Smith; her husbands: Art De Vos and John Prins; several in-laws; and two grandsons: Darren and Todd.
[Source: Sanborn & Hartley Funeral Homes in Sanborn, Iowa]
Mr. De Vos was born January 4, 1933, at Ireton, IA, the son of William and Gertrude (Pluim) De Vos. He served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War from 1951 to 1954.
He married Cornelia "Kay" Van Dyke on January 20, 1955, at Ireton. The couple moved to Rock Valley in 1958, where he worked for the Rock Valley Lumber Yard, and as a janitor at the Rock Valley Community School. In 1981 they moved to Homer, NE, where he was a ranger at the Thomas Ashford Scout Camp. In 1990, he became the manager of Camp Fontanelle at Nickerson, NE. They moved to Rock Valley in 1991, when he was forced to retire because of poor health, and later moved to Sioux Center. Mr. De Vos was a foster parent to 35 children. He was a member of the Sioux Center American Legion, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include his wife; three sons, Allen and his wife, Cindy, of Le Mars, Edwin of Norfolk, NE and Waller and his wife, Laura, of South Sioux City, NE; a daughter and her husband, Brenda and Brad Mauthe of Rock Valley; a brother and sister-in-law, William and Betty De Vos of Heber Springs, AR; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Mary Lynn; and two brothers, Arthur and Russell.
Ireton Examiner 1993-03-11.
Cornelia "Kay" De Vos, 83, of Rock Valley, Iowa, died Monday, May 30, 2022, at the Good
Samaritan Society in George, Iowa.
Inurnment will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at Valley View Cemetery
of Rock Valley.
A celebration of Kay's life will follow at 11:00 AM at Faith Reformed Church of Rock
Valley.
Family will greet friends during a luncheon after the service.
Porter Funeral Home of Rock Valley is assisting the family with arrangements.
Cornelia "Kay" De Vos, daughter of Cornelius and Alice (Evink) Van Dyke, was born July 16, 1938, at Rock Valley, Iowa. Kay was united in marriage with Edwin De Vos on January 20, 1955, at Ireton, Iowa. To this union five children were born. Kay and Edwin were also foster parents to 52 children. Kay enjoyed camping, Bingo, and doing word search puzzles. She had many jobs ranging from a cook to taking care of others. Kay was a member of Faith Reformed Church of Rock Valley and attended the Lighthouse. She went home to her Lord and Savior on Monday, May 30, 2022.
Grateful for having shared in her life are her children, Brenda Mauthe, Allen (Cindy) De Vos, and Walter (Laura) De Vos; 6 grandchildren, Derrick (Roberta) Mauthe, Jeremy (Christina) Mauthe, Dustin (Jess) De Vos, Casey (Jeremy) Samples, Riley (Lance) Mars, and Ryan De Vos; 14 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Alice Jane; many nieces and nephews; and members of the Lighthouse.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Cornelius and Alice; husband, Edwin; daughter, Mary Lynn; son, Edwin Wayne; son-in-law, Brad Mauthe; 3 brothers; and 4 sisters.
[Source: Porter Funeral Home in Rock Valley, Iowa]