Richard Lee DeVos

November 29, 1934 - June 25, 2016

Richard Lee DeVos was born November 29, 1934 in Marion County, Iowa the eighth child of Jess and Cleta (Noftsger) DeVos. Richard worked on his family’s farm from a young age. When he was 16 years old he took a job at Rolscreen, in Pella, Iowa, on the loading dock. He left that job a year and a half later to enlist in The United States Army. Richard served three years during the Korean War and was honorably discharged on November 3, 1955. Richard would then spend his working years at the Knoxville V.A. Hospital. He also worked as a part-time farm hand and later opened an auto repair business. On June 28, 1957 Richard was united in marriage to Karen Kay Taylor at the First Christian Church, in Knoxville. To this union two daughters were born: Debora Kay and Darla Raye. Richard retired from the V.A. on November 30, 1989. Richard was a devout Christian and was always active in the churches in which he and Karen were members. He was also active in the Knoxville Senior Center. Richard passed away Saturday, June 25, 2016 at the Pleasant Care Living Center, in Pleasantville at the age of 81 years. He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Amos DeVos, William DeVos, Jess DeVos, Jr. and Dorothy Friday. Those left to cherish Richard’s memory include his wife, Karen; children: Deb (Rick) Kingery of Knoxville and Darla (Jon) Whitlatch of Knoxville; 6 grandchildren: Darin DeZwarte, Kelli (Jon) Pierce, Kerri (Derek) Christensen , Kasie (Clem) Morrison, Jarad (Dianna Renfeld ) Whitlatch , Scott (Candace) Whitlatch; 6 great-grandchildren; 5 step great-grandchildren; siblings: Dena May Deitrick, LuEtta Martinache, Doris Smith, all of Knoxville; Emma Jean Chapman of Des Moines; Don DeVos of Lowell, Arkansas and Harold DeVos of Cedar Rapids; sister-in-law, Mary DeJoode of Pleasant Hill and many other family members and friends. A funeral service for Richard DeVos, age 81 of Knoxville, will be held on Tuesday, June 28 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home. Burial, with Military Honors, will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday evening at the Bybee & Davis Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Knoxville Senior Center or to Hospice of Pella. Online condolences may be left at BertrandFuneralHomes.com. Musical Selections Lela McKinney “Amazing Grace” “I Can Only Imagine” Casket Bearers Darin DeZwarte Jarad Whitlatch Scott Whitlatch Jon Pierce Clem Morrison Derek Christensen Interment Greenwood Cemetery – Knoxville, Iowa Military Honors accorded by the American Legion Baty-Tucker Post No. 168, the V.F.W. John Myers Post #3519 and the United States Army