Keith DeVries

Keith DeVries, 82, of Ackley, passed away Saturday, December 6, 2025 at The Village of Ackley. Funeral services will be 1:00 PM on Friday, December 12, 2025 at the Ackley United Methodist Church. A public visitation will be held from 4-6 PM on Thursday at the church. Both events will be under the watch of full Fire Department Honor Guard. He will be laid to rest at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, north of Ackley. Woodley Funeral Home and Crematory of Iowa Falls is caring for Keith and his family.

Keith Raymond DeVries was born on May 25, 1943 in Aplington, Iowa to Raymond and K. Muriel (Miller) Devries. He attended schools in Austinville and Ackley. On July 2, 1964 he married Darnell Eichmeier at St. John's United Church of Christ in Ackley. The couple later divorced. On June 15, 1991 Keith was united in marriage to Barbara George at East Friesland Presbyterian Church, rural Ackley.

Throughout his life, Keith held many jobs and roles. Some of these included: being a portable grain mill owner, working as a farmhand for Howard Miller as well as others; worked at the Farmer's Coop Elevator where he ran field sprayer and gas truck and served as assistant manager, served as the janitor for Ackley-Geneva High School and drove school bus. He also drove sweet corn semi for Ackley Canning Factory, drove semi for Lee Neymeyer Trucking and was an employee at Wagner Elevator in Parkersburg. For enjoyment, he drove semi for Harold DeVries and even operated school bus again after retirement.

Keith enjoyed serving his community. Early in his young adult life he was a Jaycees member. He donated gallons of blood at different blood drives and was called upon by Ellsworth Hospital in Iowa Falls to donate in critical situations.

Keith was a member of the Ackley Volunteer Fire Department from 1974-1989 and served as Fire Chief from 1980-1988.

During the Christmas season, Keith would bring joy to the children, serving as Ackley's Santa. He even broke out the red outfit in July to visit homes of special families in the area. Keith served on church council for a number of years as well as the Ackley City Council. He belonged to the Ackley-Geneva Lions Club and the Ackley Heritage Center.

Keith enjoyed people and he was a proud supporter of the Ackley community for his entire life. He loved to visit and lend a hand wherever needed. He liked to tend to his flowers and share produce from the garden. He cruised Ackley on his golf cart often with his dog, Gretchen and took rides on his gold wing motorcycle. He was a proud Dad and Grandpa.

Keith DeVries is survived by his daughters, Christil (Terry) Schwebke of Austinville, Iowa and Emberley DeVries of Cedar Falls, Iowa; his step-daughter, Alissa George (Chad Martin) of Hampton, Iowa; grandchildren: Jacob Schwebke, Dakota Schwebke, Karleyanna DeVries, Haley Schriber-Paz (Effren), Gunner Martin and Breanna (Jordan) Kellison; great grandchildren: Genevieve Schwebke, Nevaeh Schriber, Brennen, Maximino and Kaiser Paz, Caden Martin-Bon Schmit and Gannon Kellison; sister in-laws, Janet Steen and Helen Steen and first wife, Darnell Eichmeier. He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother and father in-law, Christian and Zola Steen and his second wife, Barbara.