"When we would come to Buffalo Center with John to visit Jack and Claribel, Claribel always had a wonderful lunch prepared and we would sit at the kitchen table and enjoy a meal together. The table was always set beautifully and the meal was always excellent with whatever was fresh or canned from the garden. Claribel would always ask that I play the piano since she knew I played. She would then sit down and play a few hymns or tunes herself. Jack would tell jokes and sometimes sing. Claribel and I would check out her flower beds and garden. She was always passing along words of wisdom."
In loving memory of
Claribel DeVries
August 19, 1922 - September 20, 2020
A private family graveside funeral service for Claribel DeVries was held on Saturday, September 26, 2020, at the Graceland Cemetery in Buffalo Center, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, the family would request that donations be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators, First Baptist Church Buffalo Center or Timely Mission Nursing Home Buffalo Center in Claribel's name.
Claribel, age 98, of Buffalo Center, Iowa was called to her heavenly home at the Timely Mission Nursing Home on Sunday, September 20, 2020. Claribel was born August 19, 1922 in Woden, Iowa, daughter to Edward and Katherine (Barth) Wood. She spent her childhood in rural Woden and Buffalo Center, Iowa graduating Salutatorian from Buffalo Center Consolidated High School in 1940. She married high school sweetheart John "Jack" DeVries on Sunday morning June 23,1940 at nine o'clock at the Methodist parsonage in Blue Earth, Minnesota. Rev. Reed performed the ceremony setting the stage for a family life built on love and devotion in Buffalo Center, Iowa.
Throughout her life Claribel's top priority and greatest joy was her family, especially supporting Jack. She kept the books and served many other roles for the DeVries Auction Company. She loved every opportunity to spend time with her children and grandchildren, her brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. She and Jack enjoyed traveling to visit family whenever possible. The source of Claribel's strength was her faith in Jesus Christ as her loving Lord and Savior. That faith guided and directed her life.
Claribel enjoyed playing the piano and organ and accompanying Jack when he sang at church. She enjoyed gardening and teaching etiquette during meals to her grandchildren with her "manners pig". (Never forget to say "please" pass the food or you will end up with the pig in front of you.) She proved over and over again that she was a champion speller even into her 90s. She made a birthday cake for Jesus every Christmas and enjoyed a good laugh when people would ask whose birthday it was. Claribel liked playing cards and teaching her grandchildren how to play (and sometimes cheat). She was a good hostess, making everyone feel comfortable and welcomed. She had a good sense of humor, was persistent and strong-willed, and enjoyed hard work, crossword puzzles, long walks in summer or winter, Jeopardy, watching sports, and making sugar cookies so thin you could almost see through them.
Left to cherish her memory are her children Chuck DeVries and his wife Diane of Golden Valley, MN; daughter-in-law Jeanne DeVries of Erie, CO; Doug DeVries and his wife Jane of Johnston, IA; many beloved grandchildren, great grandchildren, other relatives and friends. Besides her husband Jack she was preceded in death by infant daughter Katherine Gayle DeVries; son John Donald DeVries, Jr.; daughter-in-law Patricia (Downs) DeVries; son Roy Thomas DeVries and brothers William, John, Elmer and Melvin, and sisters Ruby Godfredson and Irene Kuchenreuther.
Tributes
"I will forever cherish my memories of Claribel from Timely Mission. Claribel was a true servant of the Lord and so Thankful for anything the staff would assist her with. Her smile would light up the room. My sympathies to Doug Chuck and families"
"Mark Wood, Claribel?s nephew and son of Elmer and Shirley Wood, used to tell this story to his seven kids. It was one of their favorite bedtime stories. Now he tells it to his grandkids. ?When Papa was a little boy, I spent the summer on the farm with Uncle Jack and Aunt Claribel. Their son, Roy was my cousin. He was close to my age. One Sunday morning, Aunt Claribel gave Roy and me each fifteen cents?one dime and one nickel-- to put in the church offering. During Sunday School, Roy and I decided to put the nickels in the offering, but to keep the dimes. We planned to go to the drugstore the first chance we got and spend the dimes on Cherry Cokes. Aunt Claribel got wind of what we had done and asked us how much we had put into the plate. We had to admit what we had done. I don?t remember exactly what happened next, but I am sure we did not have Cherry Cokes that week!? What a wonderful memory to pass down, of a loving aunt who kept not only her own kids, but her nephew on the straight and narrow. Rest in peace, Aunt Claribel! Dorothy Moore Wood "
"I have many memories of Aunt Claribel and Uncle Jack. They were both very loving and accommodating. Claribel was a fantastic cook and pie maker. She was always patient with us kids, never \'shooing\' us away while she was in the clerk\'s office working and we were chatting away to her about something that happened in Woden or out on Uncle John\'s farm. I remember well her sweet smile and standing around the piano with her and Jack as they played and sang songs. The one I remember most was \'The Little Brown Church in the Vale\'. I only remember the chorus but it went something like this - Oh come, come, come to the wildwood, Come to the church in the vale, There is nothing so dear to my childhood As the little brown church in the vale. I will miss her. Hope Wood Shuler "
"We have many fond memories of Claribel. She and Jack were our first Neighbors after we got married when we lived in Grandpa DeVries\' little house across the street from them. What a wonderful neighbor and always sharing the love of Jesus. Enjoyed seeing her and visiting her in the earlier years at Timely Mission Nursing Home. Our love and prayers are with each one of you and we are so thankful she is now in the presence of her Saviour and Lord! In Christian friendship, Paul and Cheryl Beenken"
" Such a wonderful lady to have known.A great game player in her earlier time at TM.Loved to play kings corner.Will miss you Claribel,miss reading to you?RIP?"
"Prayers for the Devries Family. "
"Prayers to the family--I remember her well and of course, Jack--May God grant you peace at this time--Sara Vriesen"