The family of Melvin De Boer, 79, announces his passing, and invites all who knew him to remember him here.
What follows is written with love, by those who knew him best.
Born in 1936, Melvin began a life that would touch many along the way.
Melvin spent his working life as ['Gary Lukes in the Monroe area for six years'] — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew him best.
There are losses that teach us the weight of a life.
Melvin De Boer, 79 of Monroe, SD died Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at the Lake Norden Golden Living Center after a long battle with Alzheimer's. Funeral services will be at 10:30am Friday, February 13, 2015 at Calvary Reformed Church, Monroe with burial with military honors at the Monroe Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be from 5-7:00pm Thursday with a Prayer Service at 7:00pm at Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home, Parker. Melvin De Boer was born in Hudson, SD to Garrett and Minnie (VanGernigan) De Boer on January 17, 1936. After attending school in Parker, SD he was drafted into the Army in 1958 and worked his way up to Specialist 4th Class in the 7th Infantry Division during the Korean War. He was a military driver for the Presidential Party and President Eisenhower during the war and was honorable discharged in 1962. After returning from the war, he worked for Gary Lukes in the Monroe area for six years. He met Maryann Miller and was united in marriage in January 1964 in South Holland, IL. They both worked for Whiting Corporation for 10 years. During that time, they were blessed with two sons, Mark and Mike. They moved back to Monroe in February of 1970 where Mel began working for Marlo Wieman of Wieman Implement in Canistota, SD. He worked for Wieman Implement until he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in December of 2005 and went to the Lake Norden Golden Living Care Center where he spent the next 10 years. He enjoyed fishing with his friends Marlo Wieman at West Wittlock Bay, and Wayne Wieman at Reliance. He also enjoyed West River deer hunting. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Maryann; 2 sons, Mark, Hot Springs, SD and Mike (Deb), Sioux Falls; 5 grandchildren, Michael and Sean De Boer, Hot Springs, SD, Justina Koob, Sioux Falls, Holly (Tom) Drummond, Rochester, MN, and Matthew Pueppke, Sioux Falls; 2 sisters Darlene Vree, South Holland, IL and Dorothy Jorgensen, Sioux Falls, SD; 2 brothers, Garrit (Hilda), Grandville, MI and James (Brenda), Crown Point, IN; and a half brother Gilbert Rosenberg, Milaca, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers Clarence and Sid, and a sister, Alice Woltzen.
