In Memory Of
Richard Devries
1936
2021
Richard Devries
May 20, 1936 — January 15, 2021
Richard DeVries, 84, died Friday, January 15, 2021, at his home after being recently diagnosed with cancer. He was born May 20, 1936 in Sheffield, Iowa, the middle child of nine, to Jerry and Lena Schroeder DeVries.
He graduated from Thornton, Iowa high school. In 1959 he was drafted into the US Army, spending most of his time in Germany in the artillery division. Upon returning to Iowa he began his career in agriculture as a grain elevator manager and then as a grain examiner for the State of Iowa. In 1973 he was transferred to Southwest Minnesota as a USDA grain examiner. In 1978 he became branch chief in the USDA Minneapolis office. In 1985 area offices were being closed and he was transferred to the Kansas City Commodity Office, later serving as a division chief and then as Deputy Director, retiring in 2002.
In 1962 he married Dina Brown of Rockwell, Iowa. In 1995 Dick and Dina purchased a lake home on Little Boy Lake near Longville, Minnesota. After retirement, entire summers were spent there.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents; his three brothers: Don, Butch and Bob; four sisters: Mildred, Alvina, Lucy and Mary; four nephews and two nieces. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dina; son John (Julie) of Zimmerman, Minnesota; daughter Julie Diemer (Jon) of Windom, Minnesota; and son Steve (Cathie) of Olathe, Kansas; grandchildren Paige and Cameron DeVries, Tanner and Sam Diemer, and Madeline and Amelia DeVries; sister Rose Springer of Thornton, Iowa and several nieces and nephews.
Dick was a member of Atonement Lutheran Church, Overland Park, and an active participant in the activities of Stratton Oaks Villas where he and Dina have lived since 2005.
Because COVID does not allow friends and family to safely gather, no services will be held at this time. Memorials may be given to Atonement Lutheran Church, 9948 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, Kansas 66212 or Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, 1500 Meadow Lake Parkway, Kansas City, Missouri 64114.
To leave a message of condolence for Dick's family, or to share a special memory of Dick, please visit the guestbook below.
He graduated from Thornton, Iowa high school. In 1959 he was drafted into the US Army, spending most of his time in Germany in the artillery division. Upon returning to Iowa he began his career in agriculture as a grain elevator manager and then as a grain examiner for the State of Iowa. In 1973 he was transferred to Southwest Minnesota as a USDA grain examiner. In 1978 he became branch chief in the USDA Minneapolis office. In 1985 area offices were being closed and he was transferred to the Kansas City Commodity Office, later serving as a division chief and then as Deputy Director, retiring in 2002.
In 1962 he married Dina Brown of Rockwell, Iowa. In 1995 Dick and Dina purchased a lake home on Little Boy Lake near Longville, Minnesota. After retirement, entire summers were spent there.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents; his three brothers: Don, Butch and Bob; four sisters: Mildred, Alvina, Lucy and Mary; four nephews and two nieces. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Dina; son John (Julie) of Zimmerman, Minnesota; daughter Julie Diemer (Jon) of Windom, Minnesota; and son Steve (Cathie) of Olathe, Kansas; grandchildren Paige and Cameron DeVries, Tanner and Sam Diemer, and Madeline and Amelia DeVries; sister Rose Springer of Thornton, Iowa and several nieces and nephews.
Dick was a member of Atonement Lutheran Church, Overland Park, and an active participant in the activities of Stratton Oaks Villas where he and Dina have lived since 2005.
Because COVID does not allow friends and family to safely gather, no services will be held at this time. Memorials may be given to Atonement Lutheran Church, 9948 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park, Kansas 66212 or Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Care, 1500 Meadow Lake Parkway, Kansas City, Missouri 64114.
To leave a message of condolence for Dick's family, or to share a special memory of Dick, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Richard Devries, please visit our flower store.
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