Arthur J. De Jong

Arthur J. De Jong passed away on Friday, January 26, 2024 at age 89 at the Givens – Highland Farms retirement community in Black Mountain, NC. He had battled the effects of dementia for several years.
Arthur Jay De Jong was born to the Reverend Peter A. and Anna (Vander Schaaf) De Jong on February 24, 1934 in Patterson, NJ. The son of a minister in the Reformed Church of America, he spent most of his years growing up in Kalamazoo, Michigan and Sioux Center, Iowa. He considered Sioux Center his hometown where he attended junior high and high school. Art's college years began at Northwestern Junior College in Orange City, Iowa, but he transferred to Central College in Pella, Iowa at the end of his freshman year. He graduated from Central College in 1956 majoring in Political Science and Geography.
He earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan in 1959. It was while in Seminary, he met Joyce Van Doorn. They were united in marriage on December 21, 1957. While still in Holland, their oldest son Mark was born.
After graduating from Seminary, he accepted a position as the Assistant Pastor at the Reformed Church in Metuchen, New Jersey. While in New Jersey, their oldest daughter Beth was born.
In the summer of 1960, he accepted a position as Chaplain at his alma mater, Central College. And the couple, along with their two small children moved to Pella, Iowa.
Three more children, Paul in 1961, and twins Ruth and Richard in 1962 were born.
In 1962, he was awarded a Master of Divinity in Pastoral Psychology from Princeton Theological Seminary.
In 1971, Art was granted a Doctor of Science of Theology from San Francisco Theological Seminary.
Art worked at Central College for 18 years in a variety of positions; Chaplain, Director of Counseling Services, Professor of Philosophy and Religion, and Assistant to the President.
During his years in Pella, he used what little free time he had woodworking. He personally made many of the family furniture pieces, including a grandfather or grandmother clock for each of his children.
In 1978, Art accepted the position of President of Muskingum College in New Concord, OH. He served Muskingum for 9 ½ years during a very difficult period. He led the college out of financial exigency to a position of sustainable financial health. In 1986, after a $19 million dollar fund raising campaign, a new Athletic Center was completed. In addition, under his leadership, the faculty at Muskingum developed a new basic education curriculum, and designed a college-level program for students with learning disabilities which became nationally recognized. Undoubtedly, the highlight of his years at Muskingum, was a trip to Egypt to personally award Egyptian President Anwar Sadat an honorary doctorate degree on behalf of the Presbyterian Church.
Art was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by Central College on May 21, 1988.
In the summer of 1988, Art moved on to the position of President of Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington and remained there until 1992, leaving behind a balanced budget and a successful $15 million centennial capital fund campaign.
With their children now all grown and starting families of their own, the De Jongs moved back east to Black Mountain, North Carolina. After a short stint assisting Montreat College, Art retired from higher education.
At age 60, Art was diagnosed with colon cancer. He endured almost a year of chemo treatments. He walked through his neighborhood every day without fail. And he remained focused on fulfilling his next goal, to open a wood carving and bowl turning shop. And that dream was realized when the Tortoise and the Hare opened on West State Street in downtown Black Mountain. He specialized in turning wooden bowls and turtles out of burl.
After about 10 years, he tired of the demands of keeping a retail establishment open and closed the business, though he did not stop carving bowls. That gave Art and Joyce more time to travel in the United States and overseas.
In addition, they took each of their grandchildren to an Elderhostel program, just them and the grandchild.
In 2005, Joyce was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer and the De Jongs moved to the Givens Highland Farms retirement community. She died in November 2007.
A year later, Art married Alida Grady in a ceremony at Black Mountain Presbyterian Church with their children and many of their grandchildren in attendance.
In addition to enjoying wood carving and bowl turning in his retirement years, Art was an avid birder and wildlife photographer. Many of his bird and wildlife photographs have been displayed throughout the Givens Highland Farms facilities.
Art De Jong is survived by his wife, Alida Grady; five children, Mark (Julie) De Jong of Douglasville, GA., Beth Cook of Avoca, WI., Paul (Jessica) De Jong of Winchester, VA., Ruth (Mark) Anker of Cambridge, OH., and Richard (Jeanne) De Jong of Brevard, NC.; as well as seven grandchildren, Matt Anker (Stephanie), Tom Anker (Sarah), Annelise Hagedorn (Jacob), Marielle (Cabell) Brand, Megan De Jong, Morgan De Jong (Carmen), and Emma De Jong, and 6 great grandchildren; Luke Anker, Georgiana Anker, Juliette Anker, Alene Hagedorn, Gerrit Hagedorn, and Ezra De Jong; sisters, Jane Van Oss, Shirma Huizenga, and Mary Trevison, and brother Marvin De Jong.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Reverend Peter A. and Anna De Jong; his wife, Joyce Van Doorn De Jong; and his brother, Peter J. De Jong.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to MANNA Food Bank, 627 Swannanoa River Rd., Asheville, NC 28805.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 6 at 2 PM at the Black Mountain Presbyterian Church