George H. De Graaf

George H. De Graaf was born George Henry Mendel on June 4, 1939 in New Orleans, Louisiana. He was the second son of Henry and Cynthia Mendel. When George was 2 years old, his father died. His mother took him to Chicago to live with relatives, and at age 9 he became a resident of Glenwood School for Boys in Illinois. When George was 11, Larry and Theresa De Graaf took him into their home as a foster son to join their family. George accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior while living with the De Graafs and when he was 18, he officially changed his last name to De Graaf. George graduated from Leyden Community High School in Franklin Park, Illinois in 1957.

While attending Westminster Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Westchester, Illinois, George met Gail Johnson. Gail was attending Wheaton College, and George would drive her back and forth to school. They became good friends and fell in love. They were married on July 7, 1960 in Denver, Colorado.

George attended the College of DuPage and Elmhurst College in Illinois for business management. He worked as an apprentice in the ink division at Photopress, then worked at Veritone, and was later hired by SunChemical Corporation until his retirement in 1999. George began with SunChemical as a technical representative, and in August 1980 he moved his family to West Des Moines, Iowa, where he was a branch manager and later promoted to executive sales, covering the state of Iowa. George loved to golf, and he took his clients (and Gail) golfing whenever he could. After retirement from SunChemical, he worked at Osco Drug and at Walgreens in the photo department in West Des Moines. Photography was one of George’s favorite hobbies.

He served faithfully in the church as a Sunday school teacher for grade school boys, as an ordained Deacon, and later as an ordained Elder. He served at Westminster Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Des Moines Christian Reformed Church, and at Westkirk Presbyterian Church. George was also active on the Missions Committee at Westkirk and taught English as a Second Language to Bosnian refugees.

In 2009, George and Gail were able to travel to England, Scotland, and France where they celebrated at Gary and Kate’s wedding and explored Gail’s ancestral history. George also enjoyed reading, tending his roses, and bird watching. He spent time writing out his memoirs, having coffee with friends, checking-in on his neighbors, and researching his genealogy.

George was preceded in death by his parents and foster parents. He leaves behind his beloved wife Gail; sons, George (Teresa) De Graaf, Gary (Kate) De Graaf; daughters, Glenda (Charlie) Woodford, Gloria (Kurt) Huyser; brothers, John (Marian) Mendel, Bart (Marlene) De Graaf; sister, Mary (Dave) Carnduff; 9 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Westkirk Presbyterian Church in loving memory of George. Online condolences may be expressed at: www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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