John Amos DeVries

John Amos DeVries 1938—2016
John Amos DeVries, 78, died in Cozumel, Mexico August 22, 2016, from kidney failure. John was born April 3, 1938, in Rockford, Illinois; the son of Amos and Beulah (Krohn) DeVries. He graduated from Oregon High School in 1956. He then married Judith Cultra on January 22, 1958, in Ashton, Illinois. He was an active member of Illinois National Guard 1957-1963. John farmed in Ogle County for 30+ years, where he started with a small farm in Rockvale Township and grew his farming operation to over 4000 acres in three states. He also owned/operated DeVries Grain and Fertilizer into the mid 80's. John helped a lot of area farmers through some very difficult economic times in the early 80's. He then relocated to Cozumel, Mexico where he married Maria Esther Guevara Campos. In Cozumel, he started Less Pay Car Rental for 20+ years. If you knew John, you always had a story to tell. He will be missed by many who knew him. John was predeceased by his parents; infant daughter, Catherine Lynn DeVries; brother, Arnold; and recently his daughter, Amy Luepkes. Survived by his wife, Maria Esther; sons, John Kenneth (Cathy) DeVries and John Amos DeVries Guevara; daughter, Carla (Tony) Benesh; grandsons, Bryan (Erica) DeVries, Brett (Jennifer) DeVries, Austin and David Luepkes, and Blake Benesh; and great-grandchildren, Carson, Caroline and Harper DeVries.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, at Ebenezer Cemetery on German Church Rd, rural Oregon. There will be a luncheon and celebration of life directly after the service at the Oregon VFW. A memorial fund established in his name. Farrell-Holland-Gale Funeral Home, Oregon is assisting the family with arrangements. www.farrellhollandgale.com