Nicholas Deboer

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NICHOLAS ROY DeBOER was born at home in Leota, Minnesota on Christmas Day, 1930 to Peter and Jennie (Meyer) De Boer. His parents would later tell him how the bells rang at church across the street following his birth. He attended Leota Christian Elementary School and graduated from Edgerton Public High School in 1948. He and his family were members of Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church where he was baptized and professed his faith. As a young man, he began working at De Boer Chevrolet for his dad. He started out by putting in lots of time in the garage of the dealership. During his younger years, Nick enjoyed playing baseball and softball for the Leota town team. On July 28, 1950 he married his lifelong sweetheart, Cynthia Van Essen in Edgerton, Minnesota. The couple settled into life in Leota. Nick and his brother, Don, took over their Dad’s business in the 1960’s. They enjoyed many years working together. Nick was always known for being a good, honest businessman and treating people well. The brothers closed their business in 1999 to move onto the next stage of life, their retirement. During his retirement, Nick enjoyed many years heading south to Arizona in winters with Cynthia, his favorite lifelong companion. He was also able to dedicate more time to one of the most important things in his life, his faith. He became involved with Bibles for Missions, where he served on their board for 18 years and helped organize a thrift store in Worthington, Minnesota where proceeds went for Bibles in Kenya. Nick and Cynthia moved to Edgerton a couple years ago to live in a townhome. They were blessed to celebrate 70 years of marriage this past July. On Saturday, January 2, 2021, Nick died peacefully at Sanford Luverne Hospital in Luverne, Minnesota at the age of 90 years and 7 days.

Nick was a life-long member of Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota where he served as an elder for many years. He served on many boards in his lifetime, Leota Christian School, Southwest Christian High School, Dordt College and the National Christian School Board. He also served on the Leota Community Water Board and was a member of the Fourth of July Civic Club. Nick enjoyed trapping mink, which always bought Christmas presents for the family, he loved to go hunting, playing golf with his wife and family and metal detecting many treasured coins. He liked to fish and camp with family and friends. He was a big fan of the Minnesota Twins. He loved to play a good competitive game of pinochle. Nick could invent and build about anything with his quick, mechanical mind. He enjoyed riding his homemade snowmobile, cruising around in his convertible and taking his motorcycle for a drive. However, his absolute favorite car rides were the times he was able to chauffeur his grandchildren at their weddings. Nick was a crazy fun guy to have around…Leota celebrity status one you could call it! He was good-hearted, loved to share his wisdom, had a great wit and knew how to make people laugh. Above all, Nick loved his Lord and Savior, he taught his children well and left a legacy of a devoted man to his Lord, wife, and family. He served his community with a servant’s heart.

Nick is lovingly remembered by his wife, Cynthia of Edgerton; children, Rod (Marcia) De Boer of Leota, Wendy (Ron) Krosschell of Chandler, MN; Jeff De Boer of Edgerton; son-in-law Dr. Gordon Spronk of Sioux Falls, SD; eight grandchildren, Stacey (Al) Kruisselbrink, Amber (Kyle) Vos, Justin (Renee) Krosschell, Derek (Erin) Krosschell, Courtney (Tyler) Schelhaas, Jordan Spronk, Morgan (Jordyn) Vogt and Nicholas De Boer; fifteen great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; sister-in-law, Louisa De Boer (Haye Zylstra) of Leota; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Deb Spronk; parents; and brother, Don De Boer.

Memorials preferred to Deb’s House (Atlas) or Southwest Minnesota Christian Schools.