A Celebration of Life for Charles “Chuck” DeBok, 94, will be held on Sunday, June 2, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton, Iowa, followed by a luncheon at the Faith United Methodist Church in Russell. Burial will take place at Bethel Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Faith United Methodist Church or Bethel Cemetery in care of the Cedar Township Trustees.
1st 50 years following high school as written by Chuck
1948-1998
I joined the Air Force shortly after we graduated from RHS and was in the service a little over a year. I came home and farmed with my Dad northeast of Russell. We farmed together until Dad retired in 1965.
Jo Kells and I were married in September 1952, and we first lived in her parents’ trailer in my parents’ backyard until the farm we had rented one-half mile north was available. We bought our first farm, 400 acres – known as the Dr. Buzzard farm – in 1954, then bought 355 acres joining it on the east in 1969, and also bought my Dad’s farm (280 acres) that year.
We have two children, Dee Ann, who married Carl McKnight, and has three children. They live north of Ames. Our son, David, married Shari Coulson, and they also have three children. They live on my Dad’s farm, which we sold to David in 1976. David’s children are the fifth generation of the DeBok family to live on that farm.
David and I farmed together from the time he graduated in 1973 until I retired in 1988. Jo had retired from the Lucas County Hospital in 1985 after 24 years in administration and after my retirement in 1988, we moved to our home in Russell.
We have traveled quite a lot over the years – several trips to Europe, Russia, Canada, Mexico, and Hawaii. In 1989, we purchased a home in Casa Grande, Arizona, and have spent the 6 winter months each year since then in Arizona. Our home is in a “55+” resort park, which everyone calls “God’s Waiting Room”, because we’re all “getting right up there”!
It doesn’t seem possible that 50 years have passed since our days at RHS – what good times we had there!
I know we have all made lots of mistakes along the way in our lives, but you will have to admit that we were a pretty “durn” good CLASS OF 1948.
Born 5th of 6 siblings on September 16, 1929, to Bernice (Roebuck) and Herman DeBok of rural Russell, Iowa, was Charles Herman DeBok. Charlie. Or Chuck later on.
A Depression era multi-generational family farm was the early life of tow-headed Charlie. It was there he learned hard work, nature, and love of faith, family, and country. And it was there he first learned of the existence of that cute little freckle-faced Jo Kells. Charlie and his family would shear sheep at the Kells’ farm. Jo and her sister, Wanda, would parade their baby doll strollers up and down the gravel road in front of the farm, trying to make an impression on the DeBok boys. It worked.
Charlie and Jo grew up to be high school sweethearts. Their first date was at (Buy-‘Em-By-the-Bag-at) Bangs in Chariton. They graduated from Russell High School in 1948 and 1949 respectively. Charlie had been a star basketball player, having scored 55 out of 97 points one night in a game against Lucas. He’s still in the record book with that game. Jo was a cheerleader.
After graduation and still in the throes of post WW2 patriotism, Chuck joined the Air Force and went to Arizona for basic training as part of the post’s fire fighter squad. While there, his hands were badly burned during a fire when the guy who was supposed to be hosing down Chuck got hot and left his post.
During this time, Jo graduated high school, went to AIB and landed an amazing job as a staff member for an Iowa Congressman in Washington, DC. She also became engaged to a dashing Annapolis midshipman. Oops.
Things were looking bleak for Chuck’s chances for Jo until he learned one day of the broken engagement of Jo and her cadet. Without a second thought, Chuck loaded up his car and drove straight to DC and proposed to her. It worked.
Chuck and Jo were married at the Russell Baptist Church September 28, 1952, in the social event of the season. In 1954, Dee Ann was born and later in 1955 came David. “My Happiness” by Connie Francis was their song.
Chuck and Jo went on to build one of the most successful crop and cattle operations in Lucas County. Along the way, they served their Lord and their community with numerous volunteer positions at church and school. They were highly respected members of the community and dedicated loving pilots for their family.
Chuck lost his beloved Jo to Alzheimer’s in 2019. He spent his final years living in Boone with daughter, Dee, and later at Homestead Assisted Living in Chariton. Early on the morning of May 25, 2024, at the age of 94, Chuck’s heart gave out on him. He slipped into the arms of Jesus and once again, it became Chuck and Jo. Forever.
Chuck and Jo are survived by their daughter, Dee (DeBok) McKnight, her husband Carl, and children: Lane, Brooke, and Emily; son, David DeBok, his wife Shari (Coulson) DeBok, and children: Gayla, Ryan, and Charles; great grandchildren: (Dee) Amira, Elijah, Nevaya, Bella, Mia, Aiden, (David) Zach, Claire, Addie, Lincoln, Kate, Madeline, Jordyn, Madden, and Dylan. Chuck is survived by his sisters, Ellen and Gerry, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Roger and Jake; and sister, Lucille.
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