Marjorie DeHamer

Marjorie DeHamer, 79, of Eddyville passed away Monday evening, July 24, 2017, at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. Marjorie Darlene DeHamer, daughter of Herman William and Evalena (VanRyswyk) Bokhoven, was born November 17, 1937, in Oskaloosa. She attended country school south of Oskaloosa through the 6th grade and then attended 7th and 8th grades at the Oskaloosa Christian School. She was a 1955 graduate of Oskaloosa High School and while in school she worked as a clerk at the Kresge Store. She later was employed as a legal secretary for Charles Scholtz. January 31, 1958, Marjorie was united in marriage to John DeHamer at the First Christian Reformed Church in Oskaloosa. Their first home was on a rented farm near Albia. After two years, they moved to another rented farm near Givin, and two years later they moved to John’s parent’s farm near Eddyville; the place they called home until 1991 when their son took over the farming operation, and they bought a nearby acreage. After her marriage to John, Marjorie stayed at home to help her husband and raise their four children. She was an excellent seamstress; and when teaching her daughters how to sew, her motto was “do it right or rip it out.” She always had a large garden and canned and froze its bounty for the family. Marjorie was a true partner in the farming operation, and she did all the bookkeeping for their farm and the land they rented. She was also the Monroe County Farm Bureau secretary for many years. Marjorie made her profession of faith at an early age at the First Christian Reformed Church, and in 1974 she and John transferred their membership to the Central Reformed Church. As a member, she was active in women’s circles. She helped with the community Bible School in Eddyville and also volunteered at the Eddyville Elementary School. She and John enjoyed camping at the Iowa State Fair for many years and escaped Iowa winters for a number of years at their time-share in Florida. Marjorie delighted in having her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren near and spent many hours babysitting. She also enjoyed reading and knitting, and in the last several years knit countless hats for the newborns at MHP. Marjorie’s family includes her husband, John of Eddyville; her children: Mary Lou Doty of Oskaloosa, Arlene (Randy) Vonk of Oskaloosa, Teresa (Dan) Augustine of Rose Hill and Larry (Barb) DeHamer of Eddyville; ten grandchildren: Leasa (Martin) Simmons of Oskaloosa, Kristin (Sherwin) Plate of Rose Hill, Greg Vonk of Sun Prairie, WI, Brandon (Kate) Vonk of Oskaloosa, Amber Vonk of Des Moines, Jennifer (Seth) Gordon of Madrid, Emily Augustine of Iowa City, Ryan (Caryn) Augustine of Rose Hill, Megan (Aaron) Grace of Grinnell and Joslyn DeHamer (Stacy Boyer) of Blakesburg and twelve great-grandchildren. Additional survivors include three sisters: Kathleen (Henry) Van Steenwyk of Knoxville, Deloris (Don) Van Rees of Sully, and Carolyn Olson (Earl Kennel) of Redman, OR; two brothers: Darrell (Kerry Nelson) Bokhoven of North Liberty, and Howard (Patty) Bokhoven of Sanford, NC; and a sister-in-law, Marilyn DeJong of Pella. In addition to her parents, Marjorie was preceded in death by a brother-in-law, Gerald DeJong. Funeral Services for Marjorie will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday morning, July 28, 2017, at the Central Reformed Church in Oskaloosa with Rev. Jon Nelson officiating. A family prayer service will precede the service at 10:15 a.m. in the east lounge of the church. Burial will be in Forest Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 11 a.m., Thursday at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa. The family will greet visitors from 5-7 p.m., Thursday evening. Memorials may be made to MHP Hospice Hospice Serenity House. Memories and condolences can be sent to the family by visiting the online guestbook at gvlfuneralchapel.com

Marjorie DeHamer

November 17, 1937 - July 24, 2017