Judith Ellen De Jong

July 17, 1934-Feb. 3, 2007

Judith Ellen Olson De Jong, 72, of Ames, died Saturday, Feb. 3, at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames. Two celebrations of life will be held, from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, at Ames Golf and Country Club, and from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at the Mason City Holiday Inn.

Judy was born July 17, 1934, in Mason City, to Ellen Edythe (Birum) and Frederick Joseph Olson. She graduated from Mason City High School in 1952 and attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., and University of Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn. After college, she spent five years teaching at the Anoka-Hennepin School District in Anoka, Minn., and the West Covina School District in West Covina, Calif. She married Paul Stephen De Jong June 11, 1960, at the bride's family home in Mason City. After raising her two children, she was employed at Iowa State University in the Office of the Registrar in the fee and registration division. Following retirement in 1999, she enjoyed researching her family genealogy, "motoring" the United States with her husband and spending time at her Clear Lake cabin with her family.

She used her editorial and typing skills and an IBM Selectric Typewriter to prepare camera-ready copy manuscripts of the National Publication "Engineering Design Graphics Journal," and the manuscript for three editions of the 400-page college textbook "Engineering Graphics." In 1976, she was asked to assemble and lead a team of secretaries to act as a "local White House" staff during President Gerald Ford's visit to Ames.

She was an avid collector of antiques, assembled one of the foremost collections in the United States of Ceramic Art Studio Pottery and was contributing researcher and editor for both editions of the Ceramic Arts Studio collectors' guide.

She enjoyed an active life and giving back to her community. She was a member of the Iowa State University Faculty Women's Club and Chair of the Newcomer and Fine Arts Divisions; charter member and past president of Oaks Ames Quester group; associate member and past president of the local Beta Tau Delta organization; member of Chapter HO of P.E.O.; chair of the 1973 Mary Greeley Hospital Auxiliary Charity Ball; appointed to the 1976 Bicentennial Commission of Ames; Girl Scout leader and den mother; appointed by the Ames School Board to serve on two ad hoc school facilities committees; studied art under the tutelage of ISU artist-in-residence Dwight Kirsch; board member of Ames League of Women Voters; member of the Ames Daughters of American Revolution (DAR); member of Des Moines Daughters of American Colonists (DAC); co-chaired the Annual Roosevelt Neighborhood Sale for 10 years; member and past president of the Roosevelt neighborhood Emanon chapter; and a member of Collegiate United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her husband, Paul De Jong, of Ames; one daughter, Deidre Kroll and husband Mark, of Ballwin, Mo.; one son, Tollif De Jong and wife Anjali, of West Des Moines; one sister, Sabra Laumbach and husband Ronald, of Chaska, Minn.; cousin, Barbara Soukup and husband Anthony, of Georgetown, Texas; cousin, Susan Telkamp, of Ivanhoe, Minn.; cousin, Keith Olson and wife Joan, of Manasquan, N.J.; cousin, Fern Atkins and husband Slim, of Alexandria, Va.; cousin, Betty Lu Grune and husband George, of Ponte Verde Beach, Fla.; nephew, Derek Laumbach, of Chaska, Minn.; and nephew, Langdon Laumbach and wife Tanya, of Apple Valley, Minn.

She also is survived by three granddaughters, Sophia Kroll, Emma De Jong and Malini De Jong; and three grandnephews, Henry Laumbach, Owen Laumbach and Thomas Laumbach.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick Joseph and Ellen Edythe Olson.

The family asks that flowers and memorials be given to Israel Family Hospice House, 400 S. Dakota Ave., Ames, IA, 50014.

Bacon Funeral Home in Nevada is in charge of arrangements.