H.D. "Jake" DeBok Obituary

Born: Sat., Jan. 10, 1925

Died: Mon., Mar. 14, 2016

Visitation

11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, Fri., Mar. 18, 2016

Location: Fielding Funeral Home

Graveside Service

1:00 PM Sat., Mar. 19, 2016

Location: Bethel Cemetery

Jake was a quiet man. One of" America’s Greatest Generation". He was a jack of all trades. A man in constant motion. He was a life insurance salesman, spending 50 years with the Kansas City Life Insurance company. If you had a sheep to shear he was there. He sheared his last sheep at age 80, probably just to show off. He was a substitute school teacher and Sunday School teacher. He spent time as a grave digger. He built, with some help of his wife, a large home in the country where the family lived for over 30 years. When the kids were older they would ask “What do you want to be when you grow up Daddy?” There was never a definitive answer. 

He was very proud to have served his country in Germany during World War II. He was an avid reader of non-fiction, primarily History, being far more concerned with what had really happened as opposed to what might have happened. 

He had an adventurous “Johnny Appleseed” spirit, always interested in what lay beyond the next hill. Whether it be traveling the United States with a sheep shearing crew, or traveling with his family throughout the world. 

Always athletic and in good shape. In his younger days he loved to dance. 

While travel was important and fun, he loved to be at home. His flower garden was his pride and joy. He spent countless hours tending his flowers, weather permitting or not. Every spring Jake would make precise preparations to insure his “purple martins” would return home each April. His numerous matchstick monuments were a witness to his patience and perseverance. His legendary utility cart and pontoon is a testament to his resourcefulness and perhaps whimsy. 

Jake was a loving husband, a dutiful son, a loyal brother, a supportive father, an attentive grandfather, and an adoring great-grandfather. He was a loyal and trusted friend. 

He was very mindful these past few precious years that he was “living on borrowed time” in that he had survived war, cancer, knee replacements, assorted broken bones, surgeries and a broken neck. Conditions that many others, not so fortunate, had not survived. He often said he lived a full and blessed life, never taking his good fortune or longevity for granted. 

He was a gentle man with a kind spirit. He lived and died purposefully, quietly and peacefully. Those of us who love him will miss this quiet man beyond measure. 

God Speed, Good and faithful servant. 

Herbert Dale (Jake) DeBok was born to Herman and Bernice (Robuck) DeBok on January 10, 1925 in Russell, Iowa. He passed away suddenly, March 14, 2016 in Mesa, Arizona. Jake attended Russell High School, Graduated from Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa and served as an Army Sergeant in combat in Germany during WWII. Jake married Donna Woodman on August 7, 1949. He built a home on 5 acres of land adjacent to Colyn Area south of Russell where he and Donna raised their children, Terry and Nick. They resided there until his retirement when relocating to West Lake. Jake enjoyed many hobbies, gardening, reading, and travel. He especially enjoyed time spent with his three grandsons and nine Great Grandchildren. Jake was Elder Emeritus of the Disciples of Christ Church in Chariton. 

He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Roger. 

Jake is survived by his wife, Donna; daughter, Terry (Laurie), son Nick; Grandsons, Marc, Matthew and Andrew (Jessica); Great Grandchildren: Audrey, Ian, Eli, Christian, Jacob, Aiden, Olivia, Deidra and Kamryn; Sisters, Lucille Susic, Ellen Hawkins, Gerry Fitzgerald; Brother, Charles (Jo): In-laws, Marjorie DeBok, Tommy Woodman (Carole), Byron Voss, and many nieces and nephews. 

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Disciples of Christ Church, Chariton, Iowa or the Russell Chapter of the American Legion.