Elmer De Kam passed away March 30, 2024. A memorial service was  held Friday, April 12, 2024; 2:00 p.m., at First Christian Reformed Church, Edgerton, Minn., with Pastor Scott Muilenburg officiating. Interment was in Hillside Cemetery, Edgerton, officiated by Rev. Lee Christoffels.

Carla Elgersma was the pianist.  Congregational hymns were What A Friend We Have In Jesus, Amazing Grace, and the Hallelujah Chorus. Ben Bouwkamp sang My God, How Wonderful Thou Art. Pallbearers were Elmer and Hennie’s grandchildren.

Elmer Wesley De Kam was born on May 9, 1939, to John Peter and Margaret (nee Schelhaas) De Kam. Elmer was number six of seven children and was raised on the family farm north of Edgerton. He attended Edgerton Christian Elementary School through the eighth grade and then helped his parents on the family farm. He joined the National Guard where he served for 6 years, and it was at this time he met his sweetheart, Hennie Bouw. On March 10, 1961, they were united in marriage in Leota, Minn., and lived on various farms until they moved to the family farm in 1969. They were blessed with two children. Elmer did the thing that gave him great joy – tilling and planting the soil and caring for the livestock. They did this until they retired from farming in 2008, at which time they moved into Edgerton.  When Hennie was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he faithfully and lovingly cared for her until the Lord called him home on March 30, 2024.

Elmer was a lifetime member of First Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton where he was baptized, professed his faith, and served on the church council. He also served on local co-op boards. He was a man of deep convictions, rooted in God’s promises and faithfully lived that out with a gentle demeanor.

He took great joy in attending the grandkids’ and in later years, great-grandkids’ (who loving called him Mr. Super G) sports, musicals, and other events. He could always be counted on to have a healthy stash of tootsies in his pocket to share with them and other children. 

Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 63 years, their two children, and their families: Wesley and Sheila De Kam of Edgerton, Heather and Rodney Bleyenberg, Logan, Tyson, Carter and Parker of Edgerton, Ashley and Nathan Stoel, Sawyer and Raelyn of Edgerton, and  Courtney and Grant Vis, Carson and Cooper of Edgerton; Glenda and  Jonathan Grossmann of Orange City, Iowa,  Matthew and Allie Grossmann of San Antonio, Texas,  Ava and Ben Bouwkamp of Des Moines, Iowa, Nicholas Grossmann of Grand Rapids, Mich., and Ian Grossmann at home; brother Arnold (Faye) De Kam, sister Marlys (John) Bouw, and many nephews and nieces.

Preceding Elmer in death are his parents, John and Margaret; father and mother-in-law, Edward and Gertrude Bouw; brothers, John and Harold; sisters, Nelvina De Kam and Laura Van Essen; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.