Dennis Leroy De Kok

1944 - 2022

Mount Vernon - Dennis Leroy De Kok, 78, of Mount Vernon, WA, went to be with the Lord at his home on July 23, surrounded by loved ones.

Dennis was born in Belgrade, MN, along with his twin brother, Dean, on May 12,1944, to Tony and Janet De Kok of Brooten, MN. He graduated from Brooten High School in 1962 and went on to attend Concordia College in Morehead, MN on a football scholarship.

Dennis transferred to Dordt College (now University) in Sioux Center, IA graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor of Arts and went on to teach for 7 years at Dakota Christian High School in New Holland, SD, 15 years at Central Wisconsin Christian High School in Waupun, WI, and 22 years at Mount Vernon Christian School in Mount Vernon, WA, retiring in 2010. He taught mainly science courses, but also a variety of other subjects, and was an athletic director all 44 years. Dennis coached cross country, basketball, track, and soccer.

While at Dordt in 1964 he met his future wife, Melba Knutzen. They were married June 28, 1968, and over the years their family grew as they welcomed Michelle, Bradley, Tricia, and Nathan. Dennis was a proud father, supporter, and encourager of his children.

Dennis had an attention to detail that he gifted to others in all areas of his life--church, school, community, family, and friends. After retirement, he filled his time with volunteering as an elder and teaching adult Sunday School classes at church; athletics, maintaining buses, and driving for sports and field trips at Mount Vernon Christian School; babysitting his grandkids; watching sports; golfing; tending to spiders and fences and painting and detailing cars and maintaining and fixing things for his kids; doing vacation home checks through the Mount Vernon Police Volunteers program; and his weekly frozen mochas.

Dennis was a fan of any and all sports. He had a ridiculous sense of humor, a smirk for a smile, and random cat noises and funny faces to entertain anyone, but especially his grandkids. He was meticulous and tidy, he loved his family, and was a humble man of God.

Dennis is survived by his wife of 54 years, Melba (Knutzen) De Kok; kids, Michelle De Kok, Bradley (Crystal) De Kok, Tricia (Peter) Cisneros, and Nathan (Valerie) De Kok; grandchildren Lincoln and William Cisneros and Victor, James, and Naomi De Kok; twin brother Dean (Karen) De Kok of New Jersey, and sister Twila (Eugene) Huisken of Minnesota and their families. He was preceded in death by his parents Tony and Janet De Kok, his brother, Norman and wife, Linda and niece, Lisa, as well as father-in-law and mother-in-law, Raymond and Nellie Knutzen.

The Dennis De Kok family wishes to thank Skagit Regional Hospital's Cancer Care Center, Skagit Valley Hospital, and Hospice of the Northwest for all the care and support in Dennis's final days.

A viewing will be held at Kern Funeral Home, 1122 S 3rd St, Mount Vernon, on Thursday, July 28 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. A celebration of Dennis's life will be held at First Christian Reformed Church, 701 W Blackburn Rd, Mount Vernon, on Friday, July 29 at 11:30 AM. During the service there will be a time to share memories and stories. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in memory of Dennis to Mount Vernon Christian School. Friends and family may offer condolences and share memories on his online guest register at www.kernfuneralhome.com.

Kern Funeral Home in Mount Vernon is assisting the family with private burial arrangements.