Gerard DeLoof ’49

Gerard DeLoof ’49 of Sioux Falls, South
Dakota, died on Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017 at Avera McKennan Hospital. Gerard DeLoof was born at Kalamazoo, MI, on December 6, 1921 the son of Gerard Sr. and Gertrude (Brunsting) DeLoof. When he was a senior in high school he joined the US Army. He served under General George Patton in the European theater of WWII. He was part of the invasion on D-Day that landed on Normandy Beach. Following his honorable discharge in 1945, he went on to graduate from Hope College and Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI. On August 16, 1950, he married Verladyne Saunders. The couple lived and served in ministry in Casnovia, MI, St. Petersburg, FL, Portage, MI, Ellsworth, MN and most recently at Second Reformed, Delaware Reformed, Monroe Reformed and Chancellor Reformed Churches in South Dakota. Jerry was currently a member of Chancellor Reformed Church. He belonged to the Chancellor American Legion where he had served as Chaplin. He enjoyed fishing, camping and gardening. He loved to read scripture and talk to people about the Lord. He treasured the time spent with his family. Besides his parents, Jerry was preceded in death by three siblings: brother, Ken and sisters, Norma and Joan. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of over 67 years, Verladyne, Sioux Falls; children: Tim (Sandy) DeLoof, Sioux Falls, Marilyn (Steve) Ward, Brookfield, WI, Don DeLoof, Lennox and Steve (Mary) DeLoof, Brandon; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren as well as other relatives and a host of friends. Services will begin 1:30 p.m. Saturday, September 23 at Chancellor Reformed Church with burial to follow in the Lennox Cemetery. Visitation also at Chancellor Reformed Church, with the family present, will be Friday 4 to 6 p.m. In liue of flowers the family requests memorials to Chancellor Reformed Mission Fund or Words of Hope.