d as historian of the newsletter. A highlight of his retirement was the Honor Flight to Washington, DC in 2009, and making a final parachute jump on his 80th birthday.
Growing up he attended the First Christian Reformed Church in Pella, Iowa. He met and married Dorothy 'Dot' Kaldenberg on June 17, 1950. They attended the United Presbyterian church when they moved to Newton, Iowa and after retirement they moved to Pella where they attended Trinity Reformed Church. His church life included singing in the choir.
He worked for his brother, Jake De Ronde, at Pella Implement while attending high school and after returning from Japan. He worked for a short time as a machinist at Maytag Company in Newton, Iowa. He was a master mechanic, working 30 years at Newton Implement as a mechanic and service foreman. He worked at Alliant Energy (formerly ISU) as a 'jack-of-all-trades' until his retirement. During his retirement he was a truck driver for Geetings and a 'fix-it man' at Jaarsma Bakery in Pella, Iowa.
He was active in the Dutch Masters Antique Car Club making many road trips with the group, and driving either his 1951 or 1978 Mercury in parades.
Bob was very creative. Many people have been the recipients of his homemade bread, his wooden bowls, his turned pens, his stained glass figures, his woodworking or poetry recitations. He loved being of service to others and loved visiting family, those in need, the sick and his many friends. He enjoyed having something to offer when he visited and had a memorized poem for almost any occasion.
He was always fascinated by the wonder of God's creations and instilled that interest in his children. He treasured his time outdoors: boating, water skiing, hunting, camping and just sitting to watch the birds and animals. He and Dot volunteered and camped at the Iowa State Fair for 20 years.
He was dearly loved and will be missed by his wife of 67 years, Dot, two children, seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren: Bob was very creative. Many people have been the recipients of his homemade bread, his wooden bowls, his turned pens, his stained glass figures, his woodworking or poetry recitations. He loved being of service to others and loved visiting family, those in need, the sick and his many friends. He enjoyed having something to offer when he visited and had a memorized poem for almost any occasion.
He was always fascinated by the wonder of God's creations and instilled that interest in his children. He treasured his time outdoors: boating, water skiing, hunting, camping and just sitting to watch the birds and animals. He and Dot volunteered and camped at the Iowa State Fair for 20 years.
He was dearly loved and will be missed by his wife of 67 years, Dot, two children, seven grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren:
Denni (Denise) and Zen Miller - Appleton, WI:
Bart and Ashli Miller - DePere, WI;Ky, Kade, Krew and Everly; Bret and Charise Miller - Stuttgart, Germany;Cooper, Lynndon, and McCoy;
Sadie Miller - Appleton, WI,
Craig and Nora De Ronde -Otley, IA:
Jason and Kamie Bersinger - Chehalis, WA;
Jordan and Chase;Brad and Stephanie Bersinger - Chehalis, WA;
Bryce;
Lena and Brett Dalton - Pella;
Austyn, Danika, Deegan and Dane;
Matt and Kathy DeRonde - Palos Hills, IL;
Nicolas, Marcelo, and Daniel.
Bob leaves the following sisters-in-law: Gladys (John De Ronde) Karlin of Ankeny, IA; Ruth Hannay of Pella, Agnes Masselink of Santa Rosa, CA, Sibel Hanson of Tucson, AZ, Chic Visser and Darlene Klein, both of Pella.
He was preceded in death by his parents, all his siblings and their spouses: Jake De Ronde and his wives, Lucille (Klein) and Cora (Hoksbergen), Nick and Margaret De Ronde, Johanna and Raymond Van Heukelom, Dora and Peter Rus, Neal and Wilma De Ronde, John De Ronde, Jennie and Harold Ver Meer.
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