Douglas L. DeGroot

Douglas L. DeGroot, age 73 of George, IA, died on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at Avera Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD.

Visitation will be held Monday December 29th from 5 – 7 p.m. with the family present at the Jurrens Funeral Home of George.

A Private Family Service will be held Tuesday, December 30th, at Jurrens Funeral Home of George, IA, with Rev. Dale Lint officiating. Burial will follow in the Evergreen Lawn Cemetery at George, IA.

In Lieu of Flowers: The family would like you to please consider a memorial donation.

Douglas L. DeGroot was born November 29, 1952, the son of John W. and Evelyn E. (Schroeder) DeGroot. He was the fourth of five children. Doug was raised on an acreage four miles Southeast of George, IA and grew up attending Dale Township #2 Country School and Hope Reformed Church. He was a proud believer of the Heidelberg Catechism. Doug finished out his schooling, graduating from George High School in 1971.

Doug married his high school sweetheart, Kathy Schoo on June 15, 1973, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ashton, IA. The couple made their home on an acreage across from Lyon County First Presbyterian Church, southeast of George, before moving to an acreage near his parents’ home farm, where they would spend the next 34 years. Life on the farm was where Doug found his passion for farming, alongside his wife, Kathy. They spent their days crop farming, raising hogs, feeder cattle, Angus cows, and turkeys. They were blessed with three children, Karen, Dan, and Sheila.

Throughout the years, Doug enjoyed hunting, fishing, and trapping. He loved to play a good game of pinochle or cribbage with friends. He also enjoyed his daily pickup rides, which he often referred to as “The drive at 5” where he would catch up on the markets and listen to the news on the radio, while enjoying the beautiful countryside. Doug spent many years working for DEMCO, in Boyden, before retiring after 32 years of service. In his later years, Doug enjoyed watching college wrestling and volleyball, watching westerns on TV, as well as, helping Kathy with their gardening and canning the produce. The light of Doug’s life was being able to “shoot the breeze” with his grandchildren and friends, he loved to catch up on all of their recent experiences.

Those who knew Doug, knew he was a man of few words, but when he spoke, it was always very profound. Known for his quick wit and his favorite saying was “You can’t bullshit a bullshitter”. Anytime the temperatures dropped below sixty degrees, you could find Doug in his favorite coveralls with a pocket full of wintergreen mints, that he was willing to share with anyone.

Left to cherish Doug’s memory are his loving wife of 52 years, Kathy; daughter, Karen (Jeff) Winkel of Ashton, IA, their children Austin (Madisen) Winkel, Dylan (Olivia) Winkel, and Emily Winkel; son, Dan (Jodi) DeGroot of George, IA; their children Dax DeGroot (fiancé, Avery Zylstra) and Jesse DeGroot; son-in-law Larry Haspels of Little Rock, IA; his children Johnathan Haspels and Ellyanna Haspels; two brothers, Darrell (Twila) DeGroot of Sheldon, IA and Dale DeGroot (Mike Watson) of Cathedral City, CA; a sister, Carol (Art) Hovey of Sioux Falls, SD; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Evelyn DeGroot; a beloved daughter, Sheila Haspels; a sister and brother-in-law, Nadine (Kenny) Dykstra; and a sister-in-law, Patricia DeGroot.

Forever in our hearts.