Harold Leroy DeKam

Harold Leroy De Kam was born on May 18, 1934, to John P. and Margaret (Schelhaas) De Kam in Osborne Township – Edgerton, MN.  He grew up with his family in his birth home and then eventually on the family farm south of Woodstock. Harold attended Edgerton Christian Elementary School through the eighth grade. Harold was a lifetime member of First Christian Reformed Church, Edgerton, where he was baptized, confirmed, and served as a deacon.

Harold was a farmer, loving father and husband, and an avid card player. After graduation from eighth grade, Harold continued to help on the farm before enlisting in the Army. He served state side from January 1955-December 1956 in Georgia and Washington state. One of his visitors during his service was his sweetheart, Martha De Kruif. The story of how they met was he was one of the guys driving around Chandler after church on Sunday nights as Martha was one of the girls that went for walks on the main drag. Guy meets girl, and the rest of the story is history. Following his service, Harold and Martha were married at the Chandler Reformed Church on February 26, 1957.

Harold and Martha started farming following their marriage on a farm north of Leota, MN. In January of 1968 they moved to a farm by Woodstock, MN where they raised their family of three sons. In 1985, they farmed their land with their son and started working at Huisken Meats. For over two years they did evening cleaning before moving to the day shift. In 1997, they moved to Edgerton and continued working part time at Huisken’s. Harold officially retired in 2004. Harold’s final earthly home was Edgebrook Care Center when he moved there at the end of August and peacefully passed away there into his heavenly home on Friday, December 15.

Harold and Martha enjoyed vacationing together throughout the United States, camping and fishing trips with their family and friends, being active with their kids in 4-H, attending gospel music festivals, volunteer work in Mississippi, and lawn and home care for their Edgerton neighbor ladies.

Harold was a Rook, Pinochle, and Black Queen card player with more wins than anyone else he played with and against. Sunday afternoons around the large kitchen table playing some type of card game is a beautiful memory for kids and grandkids. At times, card playing with family and friends went into the wee hours of the morning. Keeping a keen interest in farming, more specifically his own farmland, was a constant love for Harold. He did this by taking daily drives to the farm and throughout the area with the additional purpose to fill some of the time following Martha’s passing from cancer in 2013. Harold had his own health concerns throughout the years but was a man of faith and his family is grateful for his quiet Christian living and the tattered, well used Bible by his side.

Remembering his Christian example with love and thankfulness are his three sons and their families:

Allen and Linda of Chandler, MN

            Stacy and Shane – Brandon, Colton

            Josh and Crystal – Erika, Oliver, Leah

Dennis and Bev of Tea, SD

            Jessica – Hunter, Hayden, Zane

            Nicole and Jesse

            Clayton and Alyssa

            Jason and Shelly – Taylor, Reed, Liam

            Crystal and Kirk

            Dustin

            Alex & Jessi – Zane, Brody

Loren and Denise of Edgerton, MN

            Tami and John – Kael, Bailey

            Kimberly and Nathan – Gemma, Cora

            Kelsey and Brooks – Kennedy, Natalie, Aubrey

Also having share in his life were other family members and friends.

Siblings                                                                       Brothers and Sisters-in Law

Arnold and Faye De Kam                                            Harvey and Donna De Kruif

Elmer and Hennie De Kam                                          Joann De Kruif

Marlys and John Bouw                                               Gerald De Kruif

Preceding Harold in death are his wife, Martha (De Kruif) De Kam, parents, John P. and Margaret De Kam, father and mother-in-law, Peter and Jennie De Kruif, brother John De Kam, sisters: Nelvina De Kam and her husband Arnold, Laura Van Essen and her husband Lloyd, brother-in-law, Bill De Kruif, sister-in-law, Jeanette Reitsma and her husband Peter, sister-in-law, Fonda De Kruif, and an unborn great grandbaby.

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