John “Jack” De Pree ’56

On Tuesday, November 23rd, 2021, John Edward (Jack) DePree, loving husband to Sally DePree (deceased, March 6th, 2021), died peacefully under the care of Vitas Hospice, Cincinnati Ohio.

Jack was born in Zeeland, Michigan on August 9th, 1934 to Stanley and Winifred DePree.  He obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Hope College in 1956, attended University of Michigan on a Teaching Assistant scholarship in 1957-1959 to earn a Master’s in Spanish, and then returned to Hope to teach Spanish in 1961.

Jack met Sally, his second wife, in 1967 through one of the first computer dating services. They married in 1968 and Jack helped raise Sally’s four children in Flint MI.  Jack worked for University of Michigan as the Director of Continuing Education, and later in his career at Miami University in Oxford Ohio.  They retired in Tampa Florida.

Jack is survived by his four stepchildren: Rob Heineman, Rick Heineman, Sarah Heineman-Williams, and Ginny Heineman-Walker as well as 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

He also leaves behind the family of his late sister Anne Reisig: her husband Carl and their children, Laurie Riss, Tim Reisig & Tyler Reisig.

Jack’s wit right up until his final days, and love for his family and friends, will be his legacy.

He wanted this shared at his funeral: “I died, get over it… I did.”

An open service will be held at 1 pm, Saturday, December 11, 2021, in Zeeland, Michigan at the Second Reformed Church, 225 East Central Avenue, Zeeland. In lieu of flowers, please donate toward finding a cure for Alzheimer’s disease at www.alz.org.

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