Dedication and Commitment to Serve

DeJong’s Funeral Home was started when Bill and Dorothy DeJong purchased the Pearson Funeral Home in 1944. Bill DeJong, born and raised in Keokuk, was a Licensed Funeral Director for over 50 years. He and his wife, Dorothy, operated the funeral home and raised their family of three children in the home. Dorothy assisted in many facets of funeral service and took an active place in the community, alongside Bill. She was a well-known musician and provided organ music for hundreds of funerals. Bill was a full-time funeral director and operator of the funeral home until 1991. He became disabled by an accident which eventually claimed his life in 1993. Dorothy died in March 2005.

Their son, Dirk DeJong, was raised in the funeral home; the building and the business. As a child Dirk learned of the work it takes to make a funeral home and a funeral run smoothly. He also saw the help and comfort that can be given at a time of loss. After marrying, completing his professional training, and becoming a Licensed Funeral Director, Dirk and his wife, Theresa (Terry), became integral parts of the funeral business. In 1995, Dirk and Theresa purchased the funeral home from his father’s estate, his mother, and his sisters.
After completing a degree in Mortuary Science and a professional internship in 1998, Terry also became a licensed funeral director. Dirk and Terry are both licensed in Iowa and Illinois and Dirk is also licensed in Missouri. As full-time owners and funeral directors, Dirk and Terry are actively involved in all activities of the funeral home.They have dedicated their lives to serving the community in which they were raised and they raised their family. They have learned the joys and rewards of living a life serving their community.