Eulogy

Adrian DeVries was born in 1928, the third of six children. He grew up in Munster, Indiana. After High School he joined the Army and served in Korea between World War II and the Korean War.

After returning from the service he met Jeanne Bell; he proposed to her on April Fool’s day, and in September of 1949 he married her, on his birthday (a smart way to always remember your anniversary).

A year later they welcomed their son John into the world. At this point dad stopped smoking, a decision he never regretted. Two years later Gloria joined the family, followed by David three years later, and Sharon two years after that. And after eight years I came along. With a large family dad had to work quite hard to provide for his family. He was always a prudent man with his finances, and he always took care of his family.


As I was growing up, he had two jobs, and I remember him coming home from the gas company, and having to eat dinner quickly with the family before heading off for the evening to work at Sears. But there was always time with dinner for reading from the daily devotional. He would come home from work after my bed time, but he would always stop in my room to say goodnight. Despite long hours at work, dad always seemed to have time for the family. And on Sundays he and mom would always pile us into the car and take us to Church. Dad always instilled in us the importance of Church and a love of God.

When I think of Dad I think of a Godly man, and a man who fiercely loved his family. In 1973 mom fell and broke her hip, this lead to series of long hospital stays, and other broken bones. During this time we kids didn’t see as much of dad, because when he wasn’t at work, he was at mom’s side. Yet through this time dad always made sure we would get to church.

I’m not sure if my sisters or brothers experienced this, but there was a brief time when dad didn’t seem to know much, this was when I was in Junior High and high school. He just could never know or understand as much as I knew. When I went to college, it was amazing how much smarter dad got. And throughout my life since college my dad was always one of the wisest men I knew.

After retiring to California, Dad began to volunteer in the mail room for Mission Aviation Fellowship. This time of service for the Lord was one of his most cherished times of his life. Dad was a man who tried hard to let his life be an example of Godly living. And this is something that was seen by others. I want to share just a few of the comments I have received on facebook since dad’s passing:

“I know your dad was an admirable and beloved man who will be greatly missed”

“I always remember him as a kind gentle man”

“Your dad was always smiling anytime we visited...”

“Uncle Ade is at rest and in his place among the saints in heaven”

“We can rejoice in The Lord that he is up in heaven singing his heart out.”

It is hard to say goodbye. I will miss my dad. I will miss him calling me on a Sunday afternoon to let me know the Bears were winning. I will miss his strong hugs. I will miss his sharing what he has been learning in his Bible study group. I will miss his love.

But he is in a better place. And we can rejoice that we will see him again when our time here is through. This faith in the kingdom of God that is to come, this is dad’s greatest gift to his children, this is his legacy.